Courtney: Trump's $24 Million Fridge Plans Failed 'Smell Test'

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney said Monday that the US Air Force has canceled a $24 million contract for new refrigerators for Air Force One because the plan simply didn't pass "the smell test."

Courtney, the 2nd District Democrat who lives in Vernon, is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.

Courtney said he received a letter from Heather Wilson, the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, responding to his request for more information on the proposed sole source contract to supply refrigerators for the existing Air Force One aircraft, known as the VC-25A.

The letter confirms that the Air Force is canceling the contract and will "review more affordable options," Courtney said.

He added, "The Air Force is making the right decision to cancel the previously announced sole-source contract and hit restart on this process. Even with the understanding that the Air Force One mission brings with it unique requirements and challenges, a $24 million sole-source contract just didn't pass the smell test."

Courtney said the decision to cancel the contract was made jointly by the Air Force and the White House Military Office. In December, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $23.6 million contract to replace two of the five "cold chiller units" aboard the aircraft used by President Donald Trump.

The new fridges were supposed to replace the current units that date back to 1990, Courtney said.

Courtney said the price is related to Air Force One being a one-of-a-kind aircraft.

Wilson told Courtney in the letter that "mitigation options exist to ensure food security" until a new version of the presidential aircraft is finished as part of a 2017 contract.

Wilson told Courtney that any delays in the new Air Force One roll out would prompt the Air Force and White House Military Office to consider replacing the older refrigerators.

In her letter to Courtney, Wilson wrote, “The Air Force, working with the White House Military Office, recently reviewed the investment for the VC-25A chiller replacement and jointly decided to terminate the effort. While the VC-25A chiller replacement requirement still exists, the progress on the VC-25B program weighed against the cost of the chiller effort makes termination the most prudent fiscal sense for the government. If the VC-25B program is delayed, the Air Force and White House Military Office will need to relook at this effort. While not optimal, mitigation options exist to ensure food security until new aircraft are delivered. The Air Force has notified Boeing of the government's intention to cancel the subject contract.”

Photo Credit: White House.gov

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