A federal watchdog wants investigators to look into whether taxpayers helped bankroll partisan politicking after records showed a Department of Homeland Security aircraft and official social media accounts were used to spotlight a former secretary's trip to a Republican governors' meeting. The new complaint zeroes in on Kristi Noem's June 11, 2025, trip to a Republican Governors Association conference in Nashville and flags the way her appearance at the event was promoted online. It lands as scrutiny over Noem's management of DHS aircraft and advertising dollars continues to cloud her record.
In a complaint to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, American Oversight says records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act indicate Noem and members of her staff used taxpayer-funded travel and official DHS communication channels to attend and promote partisan events. The group is asking the Office of Special Counsel to investigate potential violations of the Hatch Act and to determine whether required reimbursements were made. American Oversight is casting the request as part of a broader effort to track whether public resources were deployed to burnish partisan profiles.
According to the records and related reporting, the secretary flew to Nashville on an aircraft identified in documents as "DHS One" and met there with a lineup of governors who were in town for the RGA gathering, including Gov. Brian Kemp and Gov. Greg Gianforte. Salon reviewed the schedule and communications that underpin the complaint. Those trip details are central to American Oversight's claim that at least parts of the excursion were political rather than official in nature.
What the Complaint Alleges
The filing says DHS's official Flickr account posted images that promoted Noem's attendance at the RGA conference and at other partisan gatherings, and that agency resources were used to make that travel possible. American Oversight argues that the FOIA records it obtained show the trips and the online publications were closely connected. The watchdog is urging the Office of Special Counsel to review whether using federal space, official messaging and a government aircraft for this purpose crossed legal lines.
The Jet at the Center of the Fight
The plane at the heart of the dispute is a Boeing 737 Max 8 that DHS leased and has discussed purchasing. It has already drawn attention for a high-end interior that reporters have described as including a bedroom, showers, a kitchen, multiple flat-screen televisions and a bar. NBC News and other outlets detailed those amenities in earlier coverage. Department officials have said the aircraft will be available to other cabinet secretaries when necessary, The Washington Post reported, but critics remain unconvinced and argue the purchase would be an improper use of enforcement funds.
Legal Implications
The Hatch Act bars most executive-branch employees from using their official authority, government staff, vehicles or social media accounts for partisan political activity. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is responsible for enforcing those rules. Guidance from OSC explains the types of conduct it reviews and the remedies it can pursue, including advisory opinions, warning letters and requests that agencies take corrective action. If OSC opens an inquiry in this case, it would examine the FOIA records and communications cited in the complaint and decide whether any violations merit further steps.
What Happens Next
American Oversight has formally asked OSC to take up the matter, and the agency will now decide whether the complaint warrants a full investigation. American Oversight executive director Chioma Chukwu said, "Public resources exist to serve the public - full stop," and called for a detailed accounting of whether taxpayer dollars helped subsidize partisan events.
Noem's office at the Shield of the Americas did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Salon reported. She has already faced congressional questions over a $220 million advertising buy and aircraft spending that helped lead to her removal earlier this year, as reported by AP News. The Office of Special Counsel has not yet said whether it will open an investigation.
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