The Department of Homeland Security is leasing a Boeing 737 MAX airliner for $70 million to transport high-profile deportees, but Secretary Kristi Noem and her alleged lover Corey Lewandowski have been using it for personal travel. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the jet features a private cabin in the back, earning it the nickname "Noem's big, beautiful jet" among DHS staff.

While DHS claims the commercial plane is more cost-effective than military alternatives for deportations, sources say Noem and Lewandowski have been spotted using the aircraft together on multiple occasions. The pair, who have denied romantic involvement despite years of rumors, were even seen at Noem's Washington home by a FEMA official who called their relationship the "worst-kept secret in D.C."

This controversy comes as Noem faces mounting pressure within the Trump administration. President Trump recently sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis amid tensions over deportation policies, highlighting the rift between Noem and Homan. Despite these challenges, Trump has so far resisted calls to remove Noem from her position, though her use of the $70 million deportation jet for personal travel may complicate her standing with the administration.