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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a investigation released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that ICE officials had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding current charter agreements.

ICE facing intense criticism after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual clutching child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

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

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

Leaked data examined from charter airline Global Crossing outlined the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before removal.