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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a report released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding child during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October 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 middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers 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 refused to provide further details.

The legislature had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded federal agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the administration was moving immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by air.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.