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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was detailed in a report published 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. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had warned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after video reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching child during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

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

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

Congress had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

In September, it was reported that the government was transporting immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

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