Kristi Noem’s use of a high-end private jet has stirred concerns among key figures in the Republican Party, as Donald Trump’s chief immigration official aims to utilize it for deporting migrants. According to NBC News, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of Noem’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) portfolio, is requesting White House approval to purchase a $70 million luxury Boeing jet. Although the jet, which Noem has already used for travel to Tel Aviv, Israel, is currently leased by DHS, the agency now seeks to own it. ICE argues that the jet will serve deportation needs and assist with travel for Cabinet members, including DHS leaders like Noem. Nonetheless, some DHS insiders have expressed doubts to NBC about whether such an extravagant aircraft is necessary for executing the president’s large-scale deportation plans.

When questioned about the jet’s role in deportations, a DHS spokesperson indicated that ‘at least one of the bedrooms is being converted to seating to prepare the aircraft to fulfill its deportation duties.’ NBC’s report quickly gained traction, prompting the Republican National Committee to distribute the story to influential GOP figures and media analysts. The report was shared on Thursday morning with a select email list containing some of the GOP’s most significant operators, including RNC members.

“Knives are out for Noem,” one GOP insider from the RNC’s list remarked to the Daily Mail, noting that only certain stories are circulated widely. An RNC representative, however, dismissed the notion that the story’s distribution to a targeted email list was noteworthy. “Whoever this ‘source’ is clearly misunderstands media monitoring,” RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson stated to the Daily Mail. “The RNC Communications team regularly tracks and shares a variety of stories—even fictitious ones—as it aids Republican communicators in countering mainstream media falsehoods. Secretary Noem and all of President Trump’s DHS appointees are performing excellently and have the RNC’s full backing,” Parkinson added.

The photos obtained by NBC News show the jet is equipped with a sprawling bedroom, flashy shower, and marble cocktail bar. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will have final approval over Noem’s jet. The White House did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment. Political appointees in ICE and the White House initially were not going to purchase the plane but suddenly changed their minds, according to NBC’s report. 

‘That particular plane was a “no,” we weren’t going to buy it. Then all of a sudden, they said ‘yes,’” a DHS official said. Officials also planned out how the plane could be ‘retrofitted’ for deportations, as well as for personal travel for Noem, according to the report. The same DHS official later noted that Noem expects the White House to approve her multi-million dollar jet.