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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes lacked engines.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a report published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a former political strategist had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two planned to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

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

ICE facing fierce backlash after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide additional clarification.

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

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

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