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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This bizarre anecdote was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video apparently shows unconscious man holding infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

Congress had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the US government.

In September, it was reported that the administration was moving individuals detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before removal.