Overview

• Chuck Schumer has placed a hold on all Justice Department nominees, calling the Qatari jet deal a constitutional and national security concern.
• The $400 million Boeing 747-8, offered by Qatar, would serve as Air Force One before being transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation.
• Schumer demands Attorney General Pam Bondi testify before Congress to explain the deal’s legality under the Emoluments Clause and other ethics laws.
• Republicans and Democrats alike have raised concerns about the potential espionage risks and taxpayer costs of modifying the aircraft for secure use.
• The White House defends the arrangement as lawful and transparent, while Senate Republicans criticize Schumer’s procedural blockade as political obstruction.