By Trendsetter Tribune 
WASHINGTON — In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from both fiscal hawks and human rights advocates, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking to purchase a $70 million luxury Boeing 737 Max 8 for a mission set that includes both high-level cabinet travel and immigrant deportations.
The request, currently pending approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), was detailed in a series of reports on Friday, February 20, 2026. If approved, the aircraft would be the most opulent addition to the administration’s rapidly expanding deportation fleet.
The “VVIP” Configuration
The aircraft, which the DHS has already been leasing, is currently configured as a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). Marketing materials and internal reports describe an interior far removed from the standard “ICE Air” experience:
- Living Quarters: The jet features two private suites, including a bedroom with a queen-sized bed.
- Amenities: A fully equipped kitchen, a walk-in shower stall, and a bar.
- Entertainment: Four large flat-screen TVs are positioned throughout the five-zone cabin.
- Capacity: The current VVIP layout is designed for just 17 to 18 passengers and can sleep 14, a stark contrast to typical deportation flights that carry 100+ detainees.
The Administration’s Justification: “40% Cheaper”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the purchase as a common-sense move to eliminate inefficiencies. In a statement to NBC News, a department spokesperson argued that the luxury jet is actually a “taxpayer win”:
| Argument | DHS Statement |
| Operational Cost | Claims the 737 Max 8 flies at 40% lower cost than the military aircraft currently used for some ICE missions. |
| Dual Use | The jet will serve a “dual mission,” ferrying Cabinet members to engagements and then immediately transitioning to deportation duty. |
| Retrofitting | DHS confirmed at least one bedroom is being converted into seating to increase capacity for the “deportation mission set.” |
A Pattern of High-End Spending
The $70 million request is the latest in a series of aviation expenditures that have placed Secretary Noem under the microscope of the House Oversight Committee:
- The Shutdown Jets: In October 2025, during the partial government shutdown, Noem was censured by Democrats for spending $172 million (some reports suggest up to $200 million) on two Gulfstream G700 jets.
- The “Daedalus” Fleet: In December 2025, DHS signed a $140 million contract to purchase six standard Boeing 737s for the core deportation fleet, funded by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA).
- The Comparison: Critics point out that the $70 million price tag for this single luxury jet is nearly double the per-plane cost of the other six 737s in the fleet.
Internal Dissent: “Far-Fetched”
The purchase has reportedly caused friction even within the DHS. One official speaking anonymously to The Guardian described the idea of using a VVIP luxury jet to transport shackled detainees as “far-fetched” and a potential security risk, given the delicate interior finishes.
Advocacy groups have also highlighted the “dystopian” optics of the President’s “Operation Metro Surge” being carried out by agents and officials flying in VVIP comfort while detainees are processed in facilities like the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida.