Ranking Member Courtney Files NDAA Amendment to Prohibit Qatari-Gifted Air Force One from Becoming President Trump’s Private Jet

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, has filed an amendment to the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i, now the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, from being transferred to any individual or entity outside of the Department of the Air Force. The VC-25B Bridge plane is expected to enter service as Air Force One next month. This week, the Palm Beach Post, among other media outlets, reported that the VC-25B Bridge plane "isn't expected to operate as Air Force One beyond 2028," and "will then go to Trump's future presidential library."

"It is imperative that Congress clearly reaffirms in law that the VC-25B Bridge 'Air Force One' is the property of the U.S. government and not any one person," Courtney said. "Since the delivery of this aircraft, which has only approximately 1,000 flight hours, the U.S. taxpayer has made significant investment into the plane, and any notion that it will be retired in 2028 and divested is completely unacceptable. My amendment makes clear, the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, which the President described as 'practically brand new,' is owned by the U.S. Air Force, and it will never become President Trump's private jet, or a trophy for a Presidential library."

Read the full text of Rep. Courtney's amendment here.

Executive airlift programs, including Air Force One, fall under the jurisdiction of the House Seapower and Projection Force Subcommittee.

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