WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) have introduced legislation that would prohibit the transfer of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and currently being used as a presidential aircraft out of the possession of the U.S. Air Force.
Courtney made the announcement Monday.
The Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act would prohibit the use of fiscal year 2027 funds authorized or appropriated by Congress to transfer the aircraft, identified as the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft, from the Air Force.
Courtney, who represents Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District and is the ranking member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, are sponsoring the legislation.
Courtney said President Donald Trump has publicly discussed transferring the aircraft to his presidential library. He argued that the aircraft should remain U.S. Air Force property.
"Upon its transfer from Qatar to the U.S. Air Force, the luxury jet had around just 1,000 flight hours," Courtney said, adding that Trump had described the aircraft as 'practically brand new.'"
Courtney said taxpayer money has been spent retrofitting the aircraft and questioned plans to retire it in 2028 and transfer it to a presidential library.
Smith said the circumstances surrounding the aircraft raise questions about the acceptance of a gift from a foreign government, the costs associated with modifying the aircraft and the potential transfer of the aircraft from government possession.
The lawmakers said their bill would apply to the Qatari-gifted aircraft and other VC-25B Bridge aircraft.
Courtney has been the ranking member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee since 2023 and previously chaired the panel from 2018 through 2022.
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