A new Wall Street Journal report has revealed a stunning misstep by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly tried to purchase 10 Spirit Airlines planes that the company didn’t actually own, and that lacked engines. The plan, devised with Trump ally Corey Lewandowski, aimed to expand deportation flights and also cover personal travel. However, the deal fell apart once officials realized the planes were unavailable and financially impractical.
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Dubious Aircraft Deal Exposed
According to the Wall Street Journal, Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski had arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines, believing the deal would help increase deportation flights and provide additional government travel options. Sources familiar with the plan revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials warned the duo that purchasing planes outright would be far more expensive than expanding existing flight contracts. Despite the warning, the plan moved forward—until it unraveled over a shocking discovery.
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Spirit Airlines Didn’t Own Jets
Adding to the confusion, Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not actually own the planes in question. The report noted that the aircraft had no engines, meaning they would have had to be purchased separately. Once this came to light, the proposed acquisition was quietly paused. The revelation has sparked widespread criticism over DHS leadership and the apparent lack of due diligence behind such an extraordinary purchase attempt.
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Luxury Jet Purchases During Shutdown
The controversy deepened after Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee revealed that the DHS had already procured two luxury Gulfstream G700 jets during this fall’s record-long government shutdown. “It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” wrote Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Lauren Underwood in a letter to the DHS.
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DHS Pushes Back on Claims
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security disputed aspects of the Wall Street Journal’s reporting but declined to provide further details. The agency’s refusal to clarify has fueled more questions about the integrity of its recent procurement decisions, particularly during a time of heightened scrutiny over federal spending and immigration enforcement priorities.
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Immigration Budget at Record High
The attempted Spirit Airlines purchase comes amid unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement. Congress approved what former President Trump dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” in July, allocating approximately $170 billion for border and immigration operations. The massive funding package has made ICE the most heavily financed law enforcement agency in the federal government, intensifying debate over how those funds are being spent.
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Deportation Flights Under Fire
In September, the Guardian reported that the Trump administration’s deportation operations often violated detainees’ constitutional rights. Leaked flight data from Global Crossing (GlobalX), a charter airline under government contract, revealed how tens of thousands of immigrants were moved across the country before being deported. Critics argue that such operations, coupled with extravagant spending by DHS, underscore a growing culture of excess and impunity within the agency.
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Mounting Questions Over Leadership
Kristi Noem’s failed aircraft acquisition has raised serious questions about judgment and oversight within the DHS. Lawmakers are now calling for transparency regarding how the deal was initiated and approved, as well as who authorized spending during the shutdown. The incident has become another flashpoint in ongoing concerns about accountability and financial management inside the Trump administration’s immigration apparatus.