A month has passed since Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States. However, the presidential aircraft he is using, "Air Force One," is not new. It is an old plane that has been in use for over 30 years since its commissioning in 1990 during the administration of George H.W. Bush. Boeing, which is responsible for the production of the new Air Force One, stated that it will take at least three years to deliver two new units. With only a year left in Trump's term, there is a risk that he will not be able to fly on the new Air Force One during his second term.
On the 14th (local time), Trump visited Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, boarded a Boeing aircraft that was once owned by the Qatari royal family, and inspected the equipment and technical features, putting pressure on Boeing. Furthermore, he has been implementing various measures such as relaxing security clearances for Boeing employees working on the Air Force One to ensure its delivery as soon as possible.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 19th that "Trump, who sees Air Force One as a symbol of power and honor, is furious about starting his second term on an old airplane like the one that transported President George H.W. Bush. To that end, he has granted authority to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, to explore bold measures to accelerate Boeing's work speed," and noted, "In some cases, by setting deadlines that are unachievable, Musk claims that at least one Air Force One can be delivered within a year." Musk, leading the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Trump's second administration, has also taken on the issue of delays in Air Force One acquisition, aiming to hasten the delivery schedule.
It was Trump who ordered a new Air Force One from Boeing. In his first term in 2018, Trump signed a $3.9 billion contract with Boeing to introduce two new Air Force Ones. However, the modification work of the ‘747-800’ as Air Force One has not proceeded smoothly. This is primarily due to difficulties in finding staff to handle wiring related to various functions and the self-defense system, communication equipment, and other aspects of Air Force One, known as "the flying White House." The design and structure of Air Force One are classified as top secret, and employees responsible for the modifications must pass the highest level of security screening.
Eventually, during the administration of former President Joe Biden, Boeing pushed back the delivery schedule of one Air Force One from the originally planned 2024 to 2027. The delivery of another has been postponed until 2028. Considering that Trump's term lasts until January 2029, he can board the new Air Force One during his second term. However, concerned about further delays in delivery, Trump began pressuring Boeing even before his inauguration. In November of last year, shortly after being elected president, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction in a call with Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing. In response, Ortberg stated in an interview with CNBC on January 28, "Because Trump wants Air Force One faster, we are working with Musk's team to see what we can do to expedite the delivery schedule."
◇ Reviewing relaxation of security clearance standards for 'the flying White House' production personnel
Boeing explains that the production of Air Force One is delayed due to problems with the supply chain, rising component prices, and the complexity of the aircraft. In this regard, a recently retired senior Air Force official pointed out to NYT that "the decision made during Trump's first term itself is a factor in the delivery delay." In connection with this, Musk is also reported to have told Trump, "The new Air Force One design includes excessive unnecessary features, which have slowed down the production speed."
However, Musk and Boeing are considering measures to relax security clearance standards for Air Force One production personnel. Currently, the production personnel for Air Force One must undergo a top-grade security check known as "Yankee White," the same level of scrutiny that soldiers guarding the President or Vice President receive. If the security clearance standards are lowered, it could make it easier for Boeing to find manufacturing personnel, potentially accelerating the production process. Conversely, this could increase national security risks as spies posing as Boeing employees might secure employment. NYT noted, "There are discussions underway to relax security clearance standards for some staff working in non-critical areas."
In addition, Trump has directly pressured Boeing. A notable example is his visit to Palm Beach International Airport, where he boarded a Boeing 747-8 that was owned by the Qatari royal family in the past. In this regard, Steven Chung, Director of the White House Communications Office, explained, "It emphasizes the 'failed project' of not delivering the new Air Force One on schedule."