More broadly, officials across ICE say Noem and Lewandowski have directed them to use a $170 billion infusion of cash from Congress to launch splashy ideas that have proven ineffective or impractical.

Among the examples some ICE officials have cited: A few weeks ago, the pair ordered ICE officials to buy 10 737 jets from Spirit Airlines that they said would be used to boost deportation flights—and for their own travel, according to people familiar with the matter. Some officials warned the pair that the effort would be prohibitively expensive compared with hiring more flight contractors, the people said.

Once the officials looked into the proposal, they learned that Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy for a second time in August, didn’t own the planes. The planes also don’t have engines, which would need to be purchased separately. The project has since been put on pause, though DHS recently purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200 million, according to Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, who were notified by the department.

A spokesperson for Spirit didn’t respond to a request for comment.