--- title: "Noem's DHS bought jets from donor's firm for $214 million" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-06T20:25:12.722Z" source_reported: "2026-10-05T22:39:54.000Z" updated: "2026-10-06T20:25:12.722Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-06T22:00:48.717463+00:00" --- # Noem's DHS bought jets from donor's firm for $214 million *Department of Homeland Security purchases included a private jet and luxury aircraft at significant markups.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to The New York Times, with documents and aviation experts cited. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote affected parties and explain why the story matters, but lack specific dates for all events. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise a scandal, but the body of the reporting is more measured and factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Department of Homeland Security agreed to pay $214 million for five aircraft from Daedalus Aviation Corporation. - Daedalus Aviation Corporation's chair, William Walters, had donated $10,000 to Kristi Noem's political action committee in 2024. - The New York Times reported that Daedalus had bought the most expensive jet for less than $90 million months before selling it to DHS for $108 million. - Kristi Noem called The New York Times' report 'factually incorrect' and 'libelous'. On her final day as Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem's department agreed to purchase five aircraft from Daedalus Aviation Corporation for a total of $214 million. The deal included a Boeing 737 airliner converted into a private jet for $108 million, and two luxury Gulfstream jets for $106 million. The department also bought two 17-year-old Boeing 737 passenger planes for $45 million each. The New York Times reported that Daedalus Aviation Corporation's chair, William Walters, had donated $10,000 to Noem's political action committee, American Resolve, in 2024. The company stated Walters did not know the PAC was associated with Noem at the time. The Times also reported that Daedalus had acquired the Boeing 737 airliner for less than $90 million months before the DHS purchase. Additionally, Daedalus had spent approximately $83 million to acquire the two Gulfstream jets. ## Disputed claims Kristi Noem stated that The New York Times' report was 'factually incorrect' and 'libelous'. She requested a retraction or correction of the article, arguing that characterising Walters as a 'donor' was misleading and implied an improper financial relationship. The New York Times stood by its reporting. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the detail that the two Gulfstream jets were acquired by Daedalus for approximately $83 million, a figure reported by The New York Times and HuffPost. None of the right-rated reports mention the specific details of the luxury renovations on the Boeing 737, such as the stand-up bar, two bedrooms, marble showers, and manta ray skin table, as reported by The New York Times and HuffPost. ## Who covered it Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 72% (13) - Centre: 22% (4) - Right: 6% (1) 1 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-06T22:00:48.717463+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-06T22:15:17.796Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Seven left-rated reports focused on the connection between the aircraft purchases and Kristi Noem's political donor, William Walters. Multiple reports highlighted the significant markups on the aircraft, with The New York Times cited as the source for Daedalus Aviation Corporation buying the Boeing 737 for less than $90 million and selling it to DHS for $108 million. The reports also detailed the luxury features of the private jet, such as a stand-up bar and marble showers. The left-rated reports extensively covered Noem's reaction to the New York Times story, characterising her response as a 'meltdown' or 'rage' and quoting her demands for a retraction. HuffPost and Crooks and Liars noted that Noem was fired by President Donald Trump prior to these events. ### Centre - Two centre-rated reports highlighted that Kristi Noem had reportedly bought five luxury jets at inflated prices shortly before leaving the Department of Homeland Security. These reports noted that Noem called the claims 'libelous' and demanded the newspaper retract its story. Attack of the Fanboy mentioned that Noem wrote about herself in the third person in her response. ### Right - The one right-rated report stated that Kristi Noem was accused of giving a 'bloated contract' to a donor's firm in her final hours running the Department of Homeland Security, citing The New York Times. The report mentioned the purchase of five 'overpriced, luxury airplanes' from Daedalus Aviation Corporation. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 4 - high: 12 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [National Cyber Security](https://nationalcybersecurity.com/in-the-last-hours-of-kristi-noems-tenure-as-the-homeland-security-secretary-the-department-of-homeland-security-signed-a-multi-million-dollar-agreement-to-buy-five-aircraft-from-a-company-ow) — 4,7 тыс. просмотров · 106 реакций | In the last hours of Kristi... - [NewsNation](https://newsnationnow.com/politics/dhs-5-planes-markup-noem-donor-report) — Noem refutes report her DHS bought planes at inflated prices from donor - [Newser](https://newser.com/story/397640/noem-donor-landed-dhs-jet-contracts-before-her-ouster.html) — On Last Day at DHS, Noem Made Sweet Jet Deal With Donor - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/kristi-noem-overpriced-jets_n_6ac3d380e4b0bc90e400370e) — Kristi Noem Spent Her Last Day At DHS Buying 5 Extremely Overpriced Jets From A Donor: Report - [Daily Kos](https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/10/5/800107740/community/kristi-noem-gives-huge-contrat) — Donor gave Kristi Noem PAC $10,000. DHS bought 10 of his planes. Coincidence? - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/kristi-noem-accused-of-giving-bloated-contract-to-donor-in-final-hours-running-dhs) — Kristi Noem Accused Of Giving Bloated Contract To Donor In Final Hours Running DHS - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/noem-donor-dhs-jets-new-york-times-b3061553.html) — Noem rages about reported jet purchases she made on her last day before being fired - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/noem-donor-dhs-jets-new-york-times-b3061553.html) — Noem rages about reported jet purchases she made on her last day before being fired - [Attack of the Fanboy](https://attackofthefanboy.com/news/kristi-noem-reportedly-bought-five-luxury-jets-at-inflated-prices-shortly-before-leaving-the-dhs-she-calls-the-claim-libelous) — Kristi Noem reportedly bought five luxury jets at inflated prices shortly before leaving the DHS. She calls the claim ‘libelous’ - [Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2026/10/kristi-noem-melting-down-over-damning-nyt) — Kristi Noem Is Melting Down Over Damning NYT Exposé On Shady DHS Contract - [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/216198/kristi-noem-dhs-planes-donor) — Kristi Noem Has Some Explaining to Do - [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/dhs-aircraft-purchases-political-donor-firm-markup-1823599) — Kristi Noem DHS Bought Five Jets From a Political Donor at a Steep Markup Before She Left Office - [Reality Tea](https://realitytea.com/2026/10/05/dhs-kristi-noem-lashes-out-new-york-times-report) — Kristi Noem Demands Retraction Over Explosive $464M Jet Report - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/kristi-noems-agency-gave-her-donor-a-lucrative-contract-just-before-she-left) — Kristi Noem’s agency gave her donor a lucrative contract just before she left - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/10/noem-donor-made-millions-selling-old-jets-to-dhs) — NYT: Noem Donor Profited By Selling Old Jets To DHS - [Volkskrant](https://volkskrant.nl/buitenland/new-york-times-amerikaanse-ex-minister-noem-kocht-vlak-voor-vertrek-vliegtuigen-van-donateur~baf34913) — New York Times: Former US Secretary Noem Bought Planes From Donor Just Before Departure - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/kristi-noem-2677998213) — Shock as Kristi Noem's final act as DHS secretary revealed: 'Striking symbol of waste' - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/news/kristi-noem-seethes-after-ny-times-expose-on-a-plum-contract-dhs-gave-to-a-political-donor-on-her-last-day-as-secretary) — Kristi Noem Seethes After NY Times Exposé on a Plum Contract DHS Gave to a Political Donor on Her Last Day as Secretary - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/04/kristi-noems-agency-gave-her-donor-a-lucrative-contract) — Kristi Noem’s Agency Gave Her Donor a Lucrative Contract ## Questions **How much did the Department of Homeland Security pay for the aircraft?** The Department of Homeland Security agreed to pay Daedalus Aviation Corporation $214 million for five aircraft. This included a Boeing 737 airliner for $108 million, two luxury Gulfstream jets for $106 million, and two 17-year-old Boeing 737 passenger planes for $45 million each. **What was the connection between the seller and Kristi Noem?** The chairman of Daedalus Aviation Corporation, William Walters, had donated $10,000 to Kristi Noem's political action committee, American Resolve, in 2024. The company stated Walters was unaware of the PAC's association with Noem at the time of the donation. **Did Kristi Noem dispute the report?** Yes, Kristi Noem called The New York Times' report 'factually incorrect' and 'libelous'. She demanded a retraction or correction, arguing that the characterisation of Walters as a 'donor' was misleading and implied an improper financial relationship. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Noem's DHS bought jets from donor's firm for $214 million", https://mediabias.news/politics/noems-dhs-bought-jets-from-donors-firm-for-214-million