The Trump administration is pressing ahead with the purchase of a £54 million ($70 million) Boeing 737 Max 8 once leased by fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, reassigning the aircraft to senior Cabinet officials and the office of First Lady Melania Trump.
Officials familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that the jet, which had been expected to be abandoned following Noem's removal from office, will instead be repurposed for White House use. The decision strips the Department of Homeland Security of authority over the plane and places oversight directly with senior White House officials.
