DHS Head Allegedly Approved Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Planes Which Airline Didn't Own
The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.
This strange incident was detailed in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.
Those sources also claimed that ICE agents 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 time in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.
“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.
A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to offer further details.
Congress had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.
In September, it was revealed that the government was transporting immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Confidential information examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.
