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Homeland Security Paid $464 Million for Airplanes. Then It Parked Them.
New York Times ^ | August 13, 2026 | David A. Fahrenthold

Posted on 08/13/2026 7:57:19 AM PDT by Miami Rebel

Starting last fall, the Department of Homeland Security spent $464 million on a no-bid contract to buy 10 used airplanes from a firm in Northern Virginia.

That was an enormous price tag, but the department said it had no time to consider other offers. The planes were needed urgently for deportation flights.

But since then, the department has barely used this new fleet — for deportations, or anything else.

The department’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has long outsourced its deportation flights by chartering planes from private companies. It also uses military and Coast Guard aircraft.

In a written statement, the Homeland Security Department shifted responsibility for the contract to Ms. Noem. President Trump fired her in March, and appointed Markwayne Mullin, a Republican Senator from Oklahoma, as secretary.

Three of the aircraft are luxury business jets. Just months after acquiring them, the department sought to loan or lease two to other agencies, including one for the use of F.B.I. director Kash Patel.

The other seven are older Boeing 737 passenger jets, which the government has left parked at an airport in Lake Charles, La., for months at a time. An internal government document, obtained by The New York Times, said the agency did not have the staff necessary to operate them.

The company that received this contract, Daedalus Aviation Corporation, is led by a chairman who had donated to a political committee supporting the previous Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem.

The situation with the planes was reminiscent of the department’s about-face on a plan to acquire warehouses to hold detainees. The department spent heavily on those when Ms. Noem was secretary but reversed itself just months later under Mr. Mullin. The department is now giving away or selling seven warehouses that it bought for more than $700 million.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 1toomanytdstrolls; concern; concerntroll; furioushallmonitor; hahadoge; homeland; tds; tdsposter

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I remember back in February, DHS said the department needed a jet for immigrant deportations and Kristi Noem’s travel. Passengers (decidedly NOT deportees) who flew on it with Noem got brochures highlighting its “exceptional interior design by renowned New York designer Peter Marino.”

That was on top of those glamorous ads featuring her on horseback that were part of a ($200 million!) marketing campaign that went to a political buddy of hers.

I'd love to see her investigated.

1 posted on 08/13/2026 7:57:19 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

Gee, another thread for TDS trolls to circle jerk.


2 posted on 08/13/2026 8:00:17 AM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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To: nesnah

Grow up, potty mouth.


3 posted on 08/13/2026 8:01:27 AM PDT by Fury
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To: Fury; nesnah
Grow up, potty mouth.

Why? He's right.

4 posted on 08/13/2026 8:06:52 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, the Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
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To: TangoLimaSierra

Will disagree. But that’s what FR is about - differing viewpoints.


5 posted on 08/13/2026 8:11:10 AM PDT by Fury
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To: nesnah

Uninquiring minds don’t want to know.


6 posted on 08/13/2026 8:12:30 AM PDT by Miami Rebel (RE)
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To: nesnah

Is it TDS if the article is true?

By the way, I did notice that the article is from the New York Times. The NYT is not a neutral news source, to say the least.


7 posted on 08/13/2026 8:13:10 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: Miami Rebel

The FBI, CIA, DOJ, maintain a fleet of more than a thousand planes. Most are exec-jets, like Falcons, Gulfstream, Lear, Beechcraft King Airs, Cesna Citations. And of course staff them with pilots, flight attendants, and catering. It’s insane.


8 posted on 08/13/2026 8:13:45 AM PDT by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: Miami Rebel

Noem has always been a low class train wreck. She proves it again.


9 posted on 08/13/2026 8:15:18 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Opinions and belly buttons, everybody has one and they get to show them if they want to.)
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To: Fury

You grow up. He’s right. FR has become a safe haven for TDS fools.


10 posted on 08/13/2026 8:19:43 AM PDT by LouAvul (They're doing it again because you didn't hang them last time.)
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To: Miami Rebel

Keep the planes for when it’s needed and if necessary, spare parts because they don’t make C-32’s anymore.


11 posted on 08/13/2026 8:20:43 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: Miami Rebel

Do they remain unused because every 5 minutes a O’Biden judge stops deportations?

Also. Finding 500 flight crews on short notice is not that easy. Especially when it is a temp job. And how many of the flight crew would get black balled by the evil democrats.


12 posted on 08/13/2026 8:40:10 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: Miami Rebel
I'd love to see her investigated.

You better watch what you post, as a start, she'll shoot your dog and after that...

She was such a grifter and a ho and was married to a guy? that wears falsies.

We never knew the truth about this woman, {and I never held the shooting of her dog against her}.

13 posted on 08/13/2026 9:00:42 AM PDT by USS Alaska (NUKE THE MOOSELIMB TERRORISTS)
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To: Leaning Right
'The NYT is not a neutral news source, to say the least.'

Nobody is neutral. All have priors and a pov.

14 posted on 08/13/2026 9:07:59 AM PDT by Theoria
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To: Miami Rebel

Thanks W. /s (globalist pos)


15 posted on 08/13/2026 9:32:26 AM PDT by bicyclerepair
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To: Miami Rebel

Time to deport more. And faster.


16 posted on 08/13/2026 10:37:25 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Miami Rebel

he department is now giving away or selling seven warehouses that it bought for more than $700 million.

I don’t for a minute beleive that the government is giving away warehouses.


17 posted on 08/13/2026 10:41:28 AM PDT by Steven Scharf
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To: Miami Rebel

The scandal is not the money on airplanes, but the money on DETENTION CENTERS.

It is a PRIVILEGE, not a RIGHT, to be in the US. Illegals to be deported should be put on those planes and deported immediately. They should not be in expensive DETENTION CENTERS. Their PRIVILEGE to be in the US should be revoked.

Unwanted immigrants with VISA or NATURALIZATION may have contract terms that require a DETENTION CENTER and court appearance. But those visa and naturalization conditions should include:
1) Deportation of those who give aid and comfort to the enemy, to terrorists.
2) Deportation of murderers, rapists...DUI, Drunk n Disorderly
3) Deportation of those who apply for welfare or government benefits.

Deportation should be mean and lean. We should not spend taxpayer money on those who work hard, take care of their family, sit beside us in church.


18 posted on 08/13/2026 11:22:53 AM PDT by spintreebob
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