Hegseth Won’t Reveal Cost, Timeline for Qatari 747-8 Jet Air Force One
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to disclose key details about the Trump administration’s plan to convert a former Qatari royal Boeing 747 into a new Air Force One during a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing, drawing criticism from lawmakers.
Pressed by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., on the cost and delivery timeline of the aircraft, Hegseth responded, “That cannot be revealed in this setting.” Reed, citing public access to the original $3.9 billion Boeing VC-25B Air Force One contract, pushed back, saying, “You cannot tell us how much the contract is for?” Hegseth replied, “You will have that number, senator.”
The conversion work is reportedly contracted to defense firm L3Harris, though Hegseth denied knowledge of execution. He confirmed no memorandum of understanding has been signed with Qatar, despite the Pentagon previously announcing acceptance of the jet. Reports suggest Qatar wants the U.S. to clarify that the initiative originated with the Trump administration.
Critics, including Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., questioned the secrecy compared to the original Air Force One deal, which was publicly detailed during Trump’s presidency. Lawmakers raised concerns about spending taxpayer money on an aircraft that may only see limited use before being retired or repurposed.
Hegseth defended the move, citing delays in the VC-25B program and the need for a stopgap solution. Still, transparency around the cost, contract terms, and intended timeline remained unresolved, as lawmakers demanded accountability.
The Qatari jet plan has sparked debate over fiscal responsibility, transparency, and political influence in military procurement. The investigation remains ongoing.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, breakingdefense.com