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A coalition of US lawmakers is demanding that the Air Force explain why funds from a nuclear missile program could be diverted to retrofit a $400 million luxury jet, gifted by Qatar, for use as a temporary Air Force One.

Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this year, President Trump announced that Qatar would give the United States a $400 million Boeing 747-8 luxury jet, previously used by the Qatari royal family, as a gift. Trump argued that the nation needed the plane because the current Air Force One (roughly 30 years old) is becoming worn and hard to maintain. He also framed it as a cost-saving opportunity since the aircraft itself would come at no purchase price. The administration expects the plane to be ready for use before the new fleet of Air Force One jets are delivered (currently under construction and slated for completion around 2028). Trump has suggested this gifted aircraft could be operational within the next couple of years, but it must first undergo extensive retrofitting to meet Air Force One standards. According to Trump, the plane would be donated to his presidential library at the end of his term, and he would not use it for personal use.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, a coalition of Democratic lawmakers led by Senator Adam Schiff sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink demanding answers about the funding and retrofitting of the jet. The letter specifically seeks clarity on reports that hundreds of millions of dollars may be diverted from the Sentinel nuclear missile program. Lawmakers wrote that they are concerned about “whether those funds are being raided to retrofit a personal gift to President Trump that likely violates the emoluments clause of the Constitution.”

The Sentinel program, described by the Air Force as a top national security priority, has been under intense scrutiny for cost overruns and delays. Reports indicate that just under $950 million previously appropriated for Sentinel was deemed “excess” and could be redirected toward other classified projects, including the jet’s retrofits. The lawmakers pressed Meink to confirm whether any of that money has already been used for the plane, warning that such reallocation could “increase the program’s costs or risk further delaying the program’s schedule.”

Cost transparency was another focal point of the letter, as the Air Force has not publicly confirmed the total price for the retrofits. While Meink testified that the upgrades would cost “less than $400 million,” independent estimates have placed the figure as high as $1 billion.

The lawmakers ended the letter by requesting that the Air Force provide current cost estimates, funding sources, and an assessment of whether shifting funds from Sentinel will affect its timeline or budget by August 20th.