WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF) today formally requested an investigation into reports that the  Department of Defense (DoD) transferred nearly $1 billion from a critical nuclear weapons program to retrofit a Qatari aircraft for use as Air Force One by President Trump.

If true, this would mean that the DoD is diverting critical nuclear defense funds to outfit an unprecedented gift from a foreign government to a U.S. president. In a detailed letter sent today to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro and Acting Department of Defense Inspector General James Stebbins, DDF contends that the DoD’s acceptance of the $400 million Boeing 747 from Qatar, and the alleged  reallocation of funds originally intended for nuclear deterrence, far exceeds the agency’s statutory authority and violates foundational principles of appropriations law.

“There are so many things wrong with this picture, it’s a challenge to know where to begin,” said Virginia Canter, chief counsel for ethics and anti-corruption at Democracy Defenders Fund. “It’s unethical, wasteful, and a clear mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. Congress controls the power of the purse. The DoD does not have the authority to repurpose nuclear modernization funds to outfit a luxury aircraft, especially one slated to be handed over to the president’s library at the end of his term.”

DoD’s Sentinel nuclear missile program, which is meant to replace the United States' outdated, yet critical, intercontinental ballistic missile system  recently went massively over budget. Because of the immense cost increase, federal law required the Pentagon to prove the program was essential to national security and that DoD would take steps to better manage expenses. Reportedly taking nearly $1 billion from this vital nuclear deterrence program breaks that promise and undermines the budget safeguards Congress put in place.

Further, the acceptance of the Qatari aircraft, which will require  U.S. taxpayer-funded renovations to make it suitable for Air Force One, may violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from incurring obligations in advance of appropriations. Already, ethics watchdogs across the political spectrum have raised alarms about potential violations of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, citing the planned transfer of the aircraft to the Trump Presidential Library upon his departure from office.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force currently operates two 747 jets as Air Force One, and two replacement aircraft were authorized in 2018 for $3.9 billion. Despite the existence of both an active and future fleet, President Trump pursued the $400 million Qatari gift.

“The fact that taxpayers are now funding a fifth Air Force One, originating from a foreign monarchy, is a staggering abuse of public trust, fiscal priorities, and national security interests,” Canter said.

DDF is urging the Government Accountability Office and the DoD Inspector General to investigate the legal basis for accepting the aircraft, the diversion of funds from the Sentinel program, and the broader national security and constitutional implications of this arrangement.

“At a time of growing global threats, the idea that critical nuclear modernization funds would be used to modify a plane for one man’s use and eventual private benefit is unconscionable,” said Christopher Swartz, senior ethics counsel at Democracy Defenders Fund. “This demands urgent oversight.”

A full copy of DDF’s complaint is available HERE

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Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.