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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former political strategist had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that ICE agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing fierce backlash after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in the summer, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft 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 agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

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

Congress had earlier approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion 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 September, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before removal.