Trump Presses Boeing for Air Force One Delivery
Controversy Grows Over Consideration of Easing Security Regulations
U.S. President Donald Trump directly pressured Boeing, which is producing the new Air Force One, to expedite delivery. When Boeing stated that it was difficult to find skilled workers who meet security standards, President Trump even considered easing security regulations. There are also criticisms that Trump’s insistence on changing the color scheme of the aircraft is causing further delays in the delivery schedule.
On the 16th (local time), President Donald Trump arrived at Daytona Beach, Florida, and was seen disembarking from Air Force One. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.
"Boeing Must Hurry Delivery"... Trump Urges Faster Production of Air Force One
The New York Times (NYT) recently reported that President Trump is furious over delays in the delivery of the two Air Force One jets ordered from Boeing. Trump has instructed Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to explore bold measures to speed up Boeing’s work.
The Air Force One, the exclusive aircraft for the President of the United States. It has been in service for 35 years since its commissioning in 1990. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.
Boeing signed a contract with the U.S. government to supply the new Air Force One during Trump’s first term in office in 2018. The two currently used Air Force One aircraft were both commissioned in 1990, making them over 30 years old, so Boeing was tasked with producing two new Air Force One jets. Originally, Boeing planned to complete delivery by 2024, but due to continuous delays, the delivery is now expected to be completed only by 2028.
To pressure Boeing, President Trump personally visited an airport to inspect used aircraft. On the 15th, Trump made a sudden visit to Palm Beach International Airport in Florida to inspect several used aircraft. The White House Press Office stated, "This inspection was to emphasize the failed project of not delivering the new Air Force One on the promised schedule." The Associated Press interpreted the U.S. president’s sudden inspection of private civilian aircraft as a warning message to Boeing.
Difficulty Recruiting Skilled Workers Meeting Security Standards... Controversy Over Regulatory Easing
The Boeing aircraft manufacturing plant located in Renton, Washington, USA. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
Boeing cites the main reason for the delayed delivery as the difficulty in recruiting skilled workers who have passed security clearance. Since the aviation industry was severely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become harder to find skilled aircraft manufacturing workers, and securing personnel with security clearance has become even more challenging.
Unlike regular aircraft, the U.S. president’s aircraft is modified to serve as a military command and control center in emergencies, so only skilled workers with the highest security clearance can participate in its production. This security clearance is called "Yankee White," which is a secret security clearance granted by the U.S. Department of Defense or to staff of the president and vice president. To obtain Yankee White, one must be a U.S. citizen, not married to a foreign national, and have no travel history to countries hostile to the U.S.
Boeing argues that it is too difficult to find skilled workers meeting these criteria and insists that security clearance regulations must be eased to increase production speed. Accordingly, it is reported that the Trump administration is considering easing these regulations. The NYT reported, "At Boeing’s request, Musk has asked President Trump to ease security regulations," adding, "If the request is accepted, there is a risk of sensitive technology or classified information about Air Force One leaking, causing controversy within the authorities."
Trump’s Strong Preference for Air Force One Color... Opposition from Technical Staff
On the 20th of last month (local time), President Donald Trump stood holding a knife in front of the inauguration commemorative cake. The cake was made to match the shape and color of the presidential aircraft desired by President Trump. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
Another factor delaying Boeing’s production speed is President Trump’s demanding design preferences. Trump wants a darker color scheme than the existing Air Force One, but the technical staff oppose the color change.
According to CNN, President Trump strongly demands changing the aircraft’s colors to white on the upper section, deep red in the middle, and dark blue on the lower section. The three-colored cake shaped like the Air Force One that appeared at the inauguration on the 20th of last month also reflected Trump’s preferences.
The technical staff oppose changing the aircraft’s color. They argue that painting the lower section a dark color makes it more prone to heat absorption, which could cause safety issues. In 2023, the U.S. Air Force also emphasized that the lower part of aircraft should be painted in light colors for safety reasons, and former President Joe Biden ordered that the lower color be the current light sky blue. CNN pointed out that the repainting process is likely to further delay production speed.
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