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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes were missing power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a investigation released on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair intended to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

ICE facing fierce backlash after video apparently shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long federal shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US 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 letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to offer additional clarification.

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

In the autumn, it was reported that the administration was moving individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from private airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.