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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a report released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair intended to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

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

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to offer further details.

Congress had earlier approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from private airline GlobalX detailed the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before removal.