WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s plan to accept a new Air Force One jumbo jet as a gift from Qatar has exposed mismanagement in government contracting and the decline of the U.S. manufacturing sector, said U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming.
Democrats and a handful of Republicans have expressed concern over the ethics, legality and potential national security threat involved with accepting the aircraft from the foreign nation.
Trump and his staff have said he is saving taxpayer money by accepting the gift and is giving nothing in return.
The deal actually traces back to a contract snafu with Boeing.
“Under a 2018 contract, Boeing was set to deliver a new Air Force One last year but has now delayed delivery until 2027,” Hageman told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday. “Boeing has cited a variety of reasons for this delay, but the president of the United States should have the safest, most technologically advanced plane available.
“I do not know the details of what the White House may or may not be negotiating on this matter, but we should look to this as one example among many demonstrating the need to resurrect American manufacturing and production,” Hageman added. “We should consider this a cautionary tale for the lack of accountability in government procurement.”
The Boeing 747-8 measures just over 250 feet long with a wingspan of 224 feet, 7 inches and a range of about 7,800 miles. It weighs nearly 1 million pounds and, configured as a passenger carrier, can hold 410-605 people.
Lummis, Barrasso
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, noted Thursday that the transfer of the aircraft is still in progress.
“As the White House press secretary said, the details are still being worked out and any transfer from Qatar to the Department of Defense will be done in full compliance with the law,” Lummis told Cowboy State Daily. “That said, they better scrub that plane from nose to tail.”
Like Hageman, U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming cited the Boeing contract snafu.
“I can understand the president's concern in expecting to get a new Air Force One that was ordered several years ago from Boeing,” Barrasso told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday. “It’s been a painfully slow process with delay after delay. I can imagine President Trump wants to get things moving.”
Barrasso also echoed Lummis’s point about legal compliance.
“The president is going to follow the law,” Barrasso said.
The Qatari Boeing 747 has been dubbed a “palace in the sky” valued at $400 million. But as Lummis referred to, it requires a thorough inspection for spyware. Further, Reuters reported Thursday that the plane might need fighter jet escorts and costly technical upgrades.
Early this week, Senate Democrats introduced a nonbinding resolution disapproving of the Qatar-Trump transfer.
Their bid to force a vote was blocked Tuesday by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. He objected to the Democrats' motion for unanimous consent to take up the matter.
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
