DHS Head Reportedly Approved Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Planes Which Airline Didn't Own

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

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that ICE officials had warned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

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

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the department.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide further details.

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

In September, it was revealed that the government was moving immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.