Nearly half a billion dollars bought the Department of Homeland Security 10 used planes it mostly hasn't flown. That's the core finding of a New York Times investigation into a $464 million, no-bid contract for deportation aircraft that have instead sat idle for months at a Louisiana airport or been shifted to VIP use. Three of the planes are high-end business jets; one is now leased to the FBI for Director Kash Patel's travel, even though the bureau already has its own jets, Senate Democrats say. The other seven are aging Boeing 737s that DHS says it currently lacks the staff to operate.
The contract went to Daedalus Aviation Corporation, a first-time federal contractor whose chairman donated to a political committee tied to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired in March and replaced by Markwayne Mullin. "The contract for Daedalus was made and approved by department leadership before Secretary Mullin was sworn in," DHS said in a statement; a Noem rep insists the purchase was "finalized" during Mullin's tenure.
DHS justified skipping competitive bidding by citing "urgent" deportation needs, even though ICE already relies heavily on chartered flights and military aircraft. The Times reports that the urgency exemption has become DHS' go-to tool for billions in no-bid spending during Trump's second term, drawing scrutiny from Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee who are demanding an explanation for what they call a misuse of taxpayer dollars. For the entire investigation, including the contract trail and political links, read the full piece at the New York Times.
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