Overview

• Six House and Senate Democrats have sent a formal letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink seeking confirmation on whether any of the $934 million deemed excess from the Sentinel nuclear missile program has been redirected to retrofit Qatar’s donated Boeing 747-8.
• Lawmakers also want details on the total classified cost of the retrofit, which Air Force testimony in June estimated at under $400 million but independent experts place as high as $1 billion.
• The planned modifications include defenses against surface-to-air missiles, nuclear-blast protection, secure communications and counterintelligence safeguards to meet Air Force One standards.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an agreement with Qatar confirming the jet’s unconditional donation, and President Trump has defended it as a free gift despite taxpayer-funded retrofit costs.
• Critics warn the gift could violate the Constitution’s emoluments clause and underscore potential influence from Qatar, noting a concurrent Trump Organization resort deal in the country could deepen conflicts of interest.