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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the carrier did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was contained in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

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Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

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

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates 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 administration was moving immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.