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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 actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This strange incident was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two intended to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

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

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

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long federal shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the department.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to offer further details.

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

In the autumn, it was reported that the government was moving individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.