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A top US military official has pushed back on a report from The Wall Street Journal that claimed the Trump administration is permanently halting the use of military aircraft for deportation flights over significant costs.

Some shit you should know before you read: Initially, The Wall Street Journal claimed that the Trump administration stopped using military aircraft for deportation flights due to excessive costs and inefficiency compared to civilian alternatives. The report highlighted that military aircraft like the C-17 cost approximately $28,500 per flight hour, whereas US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) typically uses civilian aircraft costing between $8,500 and $17,000 per flight hour. Notably, the last known military deportation flight occurred on March 1, with no additional flights scheduled. In addition, a planned flight for March 6 was canceled without any explanation. The Journal found that certain deportation flights—such as three flights to India—exceeded $3 million each, significantly surpassing the costs of traditional ICE-chartered flights. The high costs were attributed to the military aircraft’s primary design for cargo and troop transport, longer flight routes due to airspace restrictions, and lower passenger capacity compared to civilian planes.

What’s going on now: While testifying on Capitol Hill, Air Force General Randall Reed said that he anticipated the US military would continue deportation flights if ordered, despite reports that the Trump administration had paused them. “If I get the task, I’ll absolutely fly it,” Reed told the Senate Armed Services Committee, adding that he expects “more flights” in the future.

Reed also addressed concerns about the cost of using military aircraft for deportations, stating that TRANSCOM does not control funding decisions for these flights. When questioned by Senator Mazie Hirono about the financial inefficiencies, he acknowledged the high costs but reiterated that his command follows orders.

This all comes as some estimates suggest that the US could spend up to $100 billion to deport all illegal immigrants from the country (when you factor in transportation, detention, legal processing, and enforcement costs). Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has defended the potential costs, arguing that “you can’t put a price on the safety and security of the American people.”