DHS Head Allegedly Approved Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Aircraft That Airline Didn't Own
The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.
This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.
Those insiders also stated that ICE officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.
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Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.
In the interim, 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 jets for $200m.
“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.
A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to offer further details.
Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration 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 revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by air.
Confidential information examined from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before deportation.
