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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes were missing power plants.

This strange incident was detailed in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two planned to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

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

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Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants 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 October that during this fall's record-long 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 United States Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to offer further details.

Congress had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded federal agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.

Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.