Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, has raised serious concerns over a proposed plan to accept a donated Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar for potential use as Air Force One.
“This isn’t really a gift,” Courtney said. “The plane would need to be stripped down and rebuilt to meet the stringent survivability, security, and communication standards required for a presidential aircraft. It’s a massive and unfunded undertaking.”
Administration officials argue that the two current Air Force One aircraft—aging military-modified Boeing 747s—are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, while their replacements remain years behind schedule. They suggest a third plane could temporarily fill the gap.
“It’s a great gesture from Qatar,” said President Donald Trump on Monday. “I’m not going to say no to a free, very expensive plane. That would be stupid.”
The aircraft in question, a Boeing 747-8 formerly owned by Qatar’s royal family, is the same base model as the VC-25Bs currently being modified for presidential use. But experts say that’s where the similarities end.
“What matters is what’s inside,” said Kevin Buckley, former overseer of the Air Force One replacement program. “The presidential systems are unique—hardened, secure, and built for survivability.”
To be viable, the Qatari jet would require a complete internal overhaul, including new electrical wiring, avionics, communications systems, defensive technology, and electromagnetic shielding.
Andrew Hunter, former Air Force acquisitions chief, estimates the retrofit would cost tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars—comparable to a heavy maintenance cycle for an existing presidential aircraft. He also warned of the expense and complexity of scanning for foreign software or embedded tech, which could cost tens of millions more.
Operating and maintaining a presidential aircraft is extraordinarily expensive. Each VC-25B is expected to cost over $2.5 billion, with an additional $7.7 billion in projected long-term support costs over 30 years, according to a 2021 Pentagon estimate.
“This gift could become a very expensive asset to maintain,” Hunter said. “You have to ask why Qatar is getting rid of it. Maybe they found it too costly to keep.”
The Air Force One replacement program itself is already behind schedule. Boeing now expects delivery in 2027—only if some requirements are reduced, Air Force acquisition official Darlene Costello told Congress this month.
Buckley warned that retrofitting the Qatari aircraft could strain the already limited and highly specialized workforce working on the current VC-25B program. “You’re not pulling workers from thin air—you’re pulling from the same pool with high-level clearances who are already stretched thin,” he said.
Democrats have criticized Trump over ethical concerns tied to accepting a foreign gift. Trump dismissed the backlash, claiming the move would save taxpayer money and mocking Democrats on Truth Social.
“The Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE … but the Crooked Democrats insist we pay TOP DOLLAR,” Trump wrote. “Anybody can do that!”
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, blasted the plan as a “corrupt bargain” that distracts from efforts to deliver the two VC-25Bs already under contract.
“The Air Force delays are not a Boeing worker problem,” Larsen said. “But accepting an unlawful foreign gift isn’t the solution.”
Boeing originally signed a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract in 2018, after Trump personally negotiated the deal. However, cost overruns have since forced Boeing to absorb billions in losses.
Now back in office, Trump has expressed frustration with Boeing’s delays and hinted at seeking alternative solutions. “I’m not happy with Boeing,” he told reporters in February. “We may do something else—maybe buy or get a new plane.”