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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had a Coast Guard pilot fired after her blanket was missing when she switched planes.
Noem was flying in a government aircraft during an official trip when she was required to switch aircraft due to a maintenance issue. During the switch, Noem's blanket was forgotten about and was left on the first aircraft. She then reportedly had her special advisor, Corey Lewandowski, fire the Coast Guard pilot, who was told to take a commercial flight home once they reached their destination, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The dismissal was not permanent, as after reaching their destination, there was no qualified backup available to operate the aircraft and the unidentified pilot was reinstated. A DHS spokeswoman did not address the incident to the Journal, but said that Noem has made personnel decisions to deliver excellence. There has been no confirmation whether any formal employment action was taken against the pilot.
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The first aircraft used was a Boeing 737 MAX, which is used for Cabinet-level travel. There have been questions about Noem's use of the jet, according to Business Times. It was originally designated for high-profile deportations, but has been used for Cabinet travel. A DHS spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that the aircraft is being used for both removals and Cabinet-level missions and claimed it is more cost-effective than deploying military aircraft.