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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation released on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation 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 officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not own the jets and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, 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 DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to offer further details.

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

In September, it was reported that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by air.

Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.