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Pentagon Diverts $934 Million From Missile Program to Retrofit Qatar-Donated Air Force One

Sitting in San Antonio awaiting a classified overhaul, the plane’s funding has triggered bipartisan demands for legal and budgetary transparency

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Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon his arrival at Prestwick Airport, south of Glasgow on July 25, 2025, on the first day of his UK visit.
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FILE - A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that President Donald Trump toured on Saturday to check out new hardware and technology features, and highlight the aircraft maker's delay in delivering updated versions of the Air Force One presidential aircraft, takes off from Palm Beach International Airport, Feb. 16, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Overview

  • The Defense Department reallocated $934 million from the Sentinel ICBM modernization budget to a classified account widely believed to cover the retrofit of the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8.
  • The 13-year-old, gold-accented 747-8 is parked in San Antonio, Texas, pending teardown and installation of encrypted communications, anti-missile defenses and counterintelligence sweeps.
  • Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink testified that retrofit costs will likely stay under $400 million, but engineers and budget analysts warn the total could top $1 billion.
  • Senate leaders including Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed have formally demanded a detailed accounting of the fund transfer and its compliance with the Emoluments Clause.
  • Legal reviews are underway to determine if the classified reallocation complied with federal appropriation statutes and constitutional gift restrictions.