The FBI is under fire for seeking to acquire a new long-range private jet, intended for both elite tactical operations and VIP transport for Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi. But following a report from The Independent, Bondi now says she was never informed of the proposal—and wants no part of it.
“The FBI has an independent procurement process for the director and their agents,” DOJ spokesperson Gates McGavick told The Independent. “Neither the attorney general nor DOJ leadership was aware of this and sees no justification for its use by Main Justice.”
A DOJ source said Bondi not only opposes the purchase but wants the FBI to rescind its request for proposals, adding that she is “perfectly satisfied” with her current travel arrangements.
The FBI defended the acquisition, calling the new aircraft a cost-saving measure that would enhance operational efficiency for national security missions. According to an FBI spokesperson, the jet would support “hostage rescue deployments, international operations, SWAT activities, and other sensitive missions,” replacing an older and less cost-effective leasing arrangement.
Procurement documents reveal the FBI wants a high-performance business jet capable of flying at Mach 0.83 or faster, with a minimum range of 7,000 nautical miles and room for at least 12 passengers and three crew. Preferred models include the $72.5 million Gulfstream G800 and the $78 million Bombardier Global 8000—both of which exceed the stated requirements and are typically associated with high-end corporate or luxury travel.
Notably, the FBI’s own statement of objectives admits the aircraft would also serve “executive transportation requirements” for both Patel and Bondi.
But Bondi’s office insists she has no plans to use such an aircraft—and is distancing herself from the controversy as questions swirl over Patel’s travel history.
Scrutiny Over Director’s Jet Use
Director Patel, who in May told lawmakers the FBI was $1 billion over budget, has come under increasing scrutiny for allegedly using government planes for personal trips—including visits to his country singer girlfriend in Nashville, UFC events in Miami (where he sat ringside with Trump), and hockey games in New York.
While officials must reimburse for personal travel at commercial rates, critics say this still ties up key FBI resources. Senate Democrats have called for a Government Accountability Office probe into Patel’s travel, warning it could compromise emergency response readiness.
“The routine use of FBI aircraft for personal travel could take a critical resource offline when it’s needed at a moment’s notice,” former FBI counterterrorism official Christopher O’Leary told CBS News.
Craig Holman of the watchdog group Public Citizen said the purchase contradicts the Trump administration’s claims of cost-cutting.
“For a team that constantly rails against government waste, their appetite for luxury jets is glaring,” Holman said. “They’re slashing school lunches, Medicaid, and worker safety—while shopping for $75 million jets.”
Tensions Between Bondi and Patel
The rift over the aircraft is the latest flashpoint between Bondi and Patel, who have publicly clashed before—most notably over the FBI’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
In a February letter, Bondi accused Patel of stonewalling her requests for the full Epstein file, writing: “Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these documents.”
Although Bondi had once claimed to have Epstein’s client list “on her desk,” she later walked that back, admitting no such list exists.
As controversy over the jet continues, the episode highlights deepening divisions at the highest levels of federal law enforcement—and raises fresh questions about transparency, fiscal priorities, and accountability in the Trump administration’s second term.
