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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

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

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Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into 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 cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but declined to offer further details.

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

In September, it was revealed that the government was moving immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before deportation.