DHS Head Allegedly Approved Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Aircraft Which Carrier Didn't Own

The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked engines.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

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Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

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

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