Following The Largest Foreign Bribe To A President In Modern History, Leader Schumer Introduces Bill To Prohibit Any Foreign Aircraft From Being Used As Air Force One; Retrofitting & Constant Monitoring Of Qatari Plane Would Cost American Taxpayers Billions And Would Not Eliminate All Catastrophic Risks; Schumer Will Demand Vote On Legislation In This Year’s Funding Bills To Avoid The Catastrophic & Unimaginable National Security Risks

Washington, D.C. – Following the news that President Trump would accept a plane from Qatar for Presidential use, Leader Schumer introduced legislation that would prohibit a foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One by prohibiting the Department of Defense from using any funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for presidential flights.

This month, President Trump confirmed reports that he would accept the largest foreign bribe to an American president in modern history –  a gift of a $500 million luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar for use as Air Force One. To fight back against this blatant corruption and obvious national security risk, Leader Schumer introduced the Presidential Airlift Security Act, which would protect national security and the safety and security of Air Force One by prohibiting the use of any foreign plane to be utilized as Air Force One. The bill would prohibit the Department of Defense (DoD) from using any funds to procure or modify foreign aircraft for the purposes of presidential airlift. Schumer, as well as national security experts, firmly believe that there is simply no amount of retrofitting or modifications that can be made to address the inescapable and inevitable national security risks posed by the use of a foreign aircraft for this vital service.

“Donald Trump has shown time and again – he will sell out the American people and the Presidency if it means filling his own pockets,” said Leader Schumer. “Not only would it take billions of taxpayer dollars to even attempt to retrofit and secure this plane, but there’s absolutely no amount of modifications that can guarantee it will be secure. It is now on the Senate to prioritize our national security, protect Americans, and ensure that a foreign-owned plane never gets the call sign ‘Air Force One.’”

The Presidential Airlift Security Act would ensure that, given the grave and obvious national security concerns, a previously foreign owned aircraft cannot be used as Air Force One. Specifically, the bill states that not one dollar of taxpayer funding can be authorized, appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense to use for the procurement, modification, restoration, or maintenance of a foreign aircraft for the purposes of providing presidential airlift options. The legislation includes aircraft previously owned by a foreign government, an entity controlled by a foreign government, or a representative of a foreign government.

If this Qatari plane would actually serve as Air Force One during Trump’s administration, the Department of Defense would be required to accelerate a comprehensive overhaul and security upgrade to this foreign aircraft, with some experts estimating the direct cost to the American taxpayer to be in the billions. In addition to the cost, there are serious operational security and counterintelligence risks of potentially using this foreign aircraft for the presidential airlift mission. Protecting Air Force One from compromise, attack, or disruption is a critical mission of the Air Force and the entire Department of Defense. A threat to an Air Force One aircraft would not only endanger the President, but also the Air Force pilots and servicemembers who serve on or maintain the aircraft. The Air Force One fleet has extensive technical requirements each aircraft must meet in order to protect the President from any threats during travel and guarantee secure and continuous communications. A foreign-sourced Air Force One would be a security and counterintelligence nightmare and presents clear dangers to our national security.

The introduction of the Presidential Airlift Security Act comes a week after Schumer put a hold on all Justice Department political nominees awaiting senate confirmation until more details about this secret deal to accept the $500 million aircraft are released publicly. Schumer called on the Justice Department’s Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit to report on all exchanges between Trump administration officials and the Qatari government that could benefit President Trump, his family, and their businesses. In addition, Schumer also demanded information about the Qatari jet itself, including what security enhancements or retrofitting are needed and what the plane means for future presidential aircraft that the government has already planned to purchase.

The full bill text can be found here.

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