The Department of Homeland Security has purchased two Gulfstream G700 jets for Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials at a cost of more than $172 million, according to public procurement documents reviewed by The New York Times .

The acquisition, described by the department as a safety measure, comes amid criticism of Noem’s spending habits. A DHS official said the existing aircraft was more than 20 years old and “well beyond operational usage hours.” The statement did not explain why the department expanded its initial request for one jet to two.

Earlier this year, the Coast Guard sought funding for a single Gulfstream V to replace an aging plane. At a May hearing, acting commandant Kevin Lunday told lawmakers the upgrade was needed for “secure, reliable, on-demand communica

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