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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

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

ICE facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide additional clarification.

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

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

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