Kristi Noem’s replacement at DHS is still using controversial jet that helped end her tenure and is ‘barely in the building,’ report says

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is still using a controversial luxury jet that played a role in the ouster of Kristi Noem, his scandal-plagued predecessor, according to a new report.

This is one of several grievances aired by unnamed DHS insiders, who told The Daily Mail that the former Oklahoma senator appears disengaged — often leaving Washington early for long weekends — while also “desperately” trying to secure a job for his wife at the department.

Frustration inside the agency has reached a tipping point, the outlet reports, with some staffers griping that Mullin’s apparent hands-off approach has left Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other DHS components rudderless.

The alleged change in attitude among staff been swift. After Mullin was sworn in in March, morale reportedly improved, with staffers celebrating and removing “glamour shots” of Noem from DHS office, according to The Washington Examiner. One insider said that Mullin could be the “knight in shining armor” to repair the agency’s reputation, which was damaged by Noem’s luxury jet purchases, handling of the Minnesota immigration crackdown and other controversies — factors that ultimately led President Donald Trump to fire her on March 5.

When reached by The Independent, a DHS spokesperson dismissed the report's claims as "complete garbage."

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“The Secretary is completely engaged,” the spokesperson said. “He is deeply involved in all aspects of DHS from securing our border, arresting illegal aliens, ensuring FEMA is ready for Hurricane season, and helping prepare for the FIFA world cup.”

Several DHS insiders told The Daily Mail, which claims to have obtained flight flogs, that Mullin regularly flies home to Oklahoma on a $70 million Gulfstream G700 bought by his predecessor, sometimes leaving on a Thursday and not returning until the following Monday.

One source told the outlet, “He is barely in the building.” Another added: “Mullin seems to think DHS requires less work than a senator, and it shows. Meanwhile, ICE has no direction.”

The aircraft that the secretary is reportedly using — equipped with a queen bed, a bar and showers — was one of the many factors that contributed to Noem’s downfall. During congressional testimony, she defended the department’s contract for a pair of Gulfstream jets, telling lawmakers it was required by law. In the end, the White House moved forward with a plan to buy nine planes using ICE funding.

“Mullin was one of the people complaining when Noem ordered the new planes. But they bought all the planes that Noem recommended. No complaints all of a sudden,' one source told the outlet.

A DHS spokesperson said Mullin “has NEVER left DHS on a Thursday” and “works around the clock even on weekends.” They added that flights home are paid for “out of his own pocket.”

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Another complaint from DHS insiders is that Mullin is “desperately” trying to get his wife a job in the department so she won’t have to pay for airfare, according to sources.

Mullin’s wife, Christine Mullin, currently works at the America First Policy Institute, a non-partisan non-profit.

“He pitches the idea on the regular,” a source with knowledge of the matter said. “While Mullin is busy trying to recruit his wife to DHS, ICE facilities are being overrun by leftist mobs, enraging the base ahead of midterms.”

A DHS spokesperson also pushed back against the claim, telling The Daily Mail that the secretary would “always pay for his wife’s travel on the plan” and that he “abides by all ethical requirements.”

As the internal drama unfolds, polling indicates many Americans have concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. In a YouGov survey released in March, 56 percent of respondents said they had no or little confidence in ICE, while a record-high 50 percent said they support abolishing the agency.

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