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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which recounted how the official and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the jets and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

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

Congress had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded federal agency in the federal government.

In September, it was revealed that the government was transporting immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

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