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

This strange incident was contained in a investigation released on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also stated that ICE officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unconscious man holding child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

The legislature had previously authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration 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 revealed that the government was moving individuals held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before deportation.