Trump is now saying the “gift” is going to the DOD. Which is fine, because they will not accept it without Congressional approval (I would think). And even if they do, or if Congress does approve it, it won’t be fit to use for Presidential flights for at least 5 years.
And I still don’t think the Congress will be excited to approve the funding necessary to maintain (it’s due for basically its 100,000 mile overhaul; millions of dollars there) and refurbish it for use (billions more for that). Free, this “gift” isn’t.
Trump is talking like he gets the fancy plane immediately, so he can show off to his friends. Reality has other plans.
IANAL, but yeah, I do think Congress needs to approve donations to agencies. I looked into it in my usual half-assed fashion:
ReplyDeletehttps://propterquod.typepad.com/dying_giraffe/2025/05/keep-ancient-lands-your-luxury-plane.html
They certainly have to authorize the funding to maintain and then refurbish it. DOD is not gonna eat that cost.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, absolutely.
ReplyDeleteThat's one reason why I really want to see Bondi's memo that "analyzed" the situation and said it was all legally fine. Like, what does that even mean? Did she determine that it was already "pre-consented" to with other statutes?
Rven if accepting the gift is okay from that angle, do they think they can just re-allocate funds from, say...modernizing our nuclear arsenal?