A Costly Fleet, Barely Used
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spent over $460 million to acquire 10 aircraft intended to boost deportation flights for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an operation dubbed 'ICE Air' by officials. However, months after delivery, the majority of these planes have seen little to no use, prompting criticism from lawmakers and questions about the procurement process.
The fleet consists of seven Boeing 737-700s, one Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ, and two Gulfstream business jets (a G650 and a G650ER). According to reports, five of the 737s are currently undergoing maintenance, and two are scheduled to begin deportation flights later in August. The remaining aircraft, including the Gulfstreams, remain parked.
The acquisition was made under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who argued that existing charter capacity was insufficient to meet the Trump administration's deportation targets. DHS states that over 605,000 people were formally deported in 2025, and the goal is to deport one million per year. Current air operations have conducted up to 300 deportation flights per month, but officials said more capacity was needed.
No-Bid Contract and Political Fallout
The DHS purchased the aircraft from Daedalus Aviation Corporation, a Northern Virginia-based company with no prior government contracts, through a no-bid process. The deal has since become a political flashpoint. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Peter Welch, and Adam Schiff have written a letter demanding answers, requesting correspondence between Daedalus and DHS leadership, flight logs, and information on who has been onboard.
In their letter, the senators criticized the procurement, saying, "The waste generated by parking most of these aircraft compounds the loss of taxpayer funds involved in the suspect, no-bid process the Department hurriedly implemented to buy these jets." They also questioned why DHS chose Daedalus, whose chair, William Walters III, donated $10,000 to a pro-Noem super PAC, according to reports.
The Daily Beast reported in March that Daedalus' CEO had previously taken his former airline into bankruptcy. The New York Times obtained an internal document indicating DHS lacked sufficient personnel to fly the planes, and that the aircraft had barely been used.
Leadership Blame Game
Former Secretary Kristi Noem and her successor, Markwayne Mullin, have each blamed the other for the decision. A DHS spokesperson told the Daily Beast that "the contract for Daedalus was made and approved by department leadership before Secretary Mullin was sworn in." A spokesperson for Noem countered that the deal was finalized under Mullin's watch.
The department has also tried to lease two of the luxury jets to other government agencies, with limited success. The fleet currently sits idle at Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to CNN. One of the aircraft, Noem's "Big Beautiful Jet," is reported to have been used to ferry Trump administration officials around the world.
Operational Challenges and Future Plans
DHS says it is actively working to bring the fleet online. The department told The New York Times in August that two planes were due for deportation flights that month. However, the agency acknowledged it lacks pilots, flight attendants, and security personnel, and is seeking private contractors to operate the flights.
The department stated it "reserves the right to adjust course in an environment with evolving requirements and demands." The goal is for the ICE Air fleet to be fully operational by July 2027, though skeptics question whether the investment will ever pay off.
John Sandweg, former acting Director of ICE, expressed doubt about the strategy, saying, "If you had asked me to write down a list of things ICE needed to do to increase the number of deportations, buying its own fleet of airplanes would absolutely not make the top ten."
The DHS has not commented on the senators' letter or the ongoing congressional scrutiny.