Homeland Security Secretary Noem defends millions spent on jets as Democrats blast move during shutdown

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday defended the Coast Guard's decision to spend millions of dollars on two new private planes in the face of fierce criticism from Democrats, some of whom have noted the move is coming amid a government shutdown.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday defended the Coast Guard's decision to spend millions of dollars on two new private planes in the face of fierce criticism from Democrats, some of whom have noted the move is coming amid a government shutdown

The comments from Noem came after a pair of Democratic House members wrote to the secretary over the weekend requesting information on what they said was a new contract between the United States Coast Guard and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation