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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked engines.

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report released on Friday, which described how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

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

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle 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 support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline GlobalX detailed the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before removal.