US Government takes $1B from nuclear modernization for gold-plated jet

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/air-force-one-trump-cost.html

by conartist6 • 12 months ago

95 40 12 months ago

nytimes.com

catlikesshrimp• 12 months ago

Just use reader mode in firefox.

But the title says it all.

freeopinion4• 12 months ago

Here's a bit that is hard to stuff into a 10-word headline.

"Nuclear modernization" refers to the development of the Sentinel missile to replace the Minuteman III missile. It is arguably not a modernization at all. It is a spectacular example of spreading seemingly endless money around for political ends. It's a $140+ billion boondoggle that has somehow escaped the attention of DOGE while they were hunting down what they claim is $170 billion in fraud and waste in places like the national parks.

actionfromafar• 12 months ago

This is genius! No other administration could have come up with this plan! So much winning.

mykowebhn• 12 months ago

And at the same time I see this story on HN:

"4k NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred resignation program"

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44699052

Not sure how either story is making anything great again...

freeopinion4• 12 months ago

I've seen tons of job postings for software devs on the Sentinel missile project (the subject of this story). Perhaps many of those NASA employees can land there.

bananapub• 12 months ago

I am endlessly fascinated by how almost the entire American elite has just accepted the federal government being couped and at least four years of just self-dealing, corruption, theft and all of policy being driven by whatever idiotic childish whims one senile old man has, completely unrestrained by congress or courts or advisors.

are they just this pathetic? or do they largely see this as personally beneficial?

jrs2353• 12 months ago

I'm going to assume both answers are the same and that the answer is "Yes".

Guid_NewGuid• 12 months ago

I have a theory that this is built into the American system. People are brainwashed into thinking the system of government is perfect and unimpeachable (pledge of allegiance, constitution being this holy scripture). So when the imperfect system inevitably breaks down it is regarded as an unavoidable outcome.

Because the system delivered the outcome it must be the only possibility.

jrs2353• 12 months ago

American Exceptionalism, and the belief of the United States superiority and infallibility, is built on quasi-religious beliefs. The holy documents include the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Those that follow it hold up the founding fathers on pedestals and work to cover their negative attributes/sins (being and benefitting from being slave owners, many having adulterous affairs, etc.) To not hold such pride is to be unpatriotic according to followers. Heresy and blasphemy which should get people kicked out or killed.

UncleEntity• 12 months ago

I think a big part of the problem is everyone just kind of assumed no one would get up to the kinds of shenanigans the current administrations is engaging in.

Kind of like a 'please take one' sign on a bucket of Halloween candy breaks down really, really fast in the presence of bad actors.

Currently, the courts are the only 'checks and balances' on the executive branch and they operate slowly by design. Eventually this will all get sorted out and we'll get back to normalcy assuming, of course, 'free and fair elections' survive the turmoil.

DangitBobby• 12 months ago

Well it's been pretty effectively demonstrated that impeachment is not an option and he has the protection of the SC so I don't know what you think should happen. I guess they could start trying to rip Congress and the Senate apart to make impeachment possible but I think that would take at least a couple of years.

tuna74• 12 months ago

The House of Representatives can impeach Trump (they should), the Supreme Court said that that is the way to deal with a president doing illegal stuff.

jaybrendansmith• 12 months ago

Who is the American elite? If you mean billionaires...they are all in on the take. If you mean big business, they are hoping for the destruction of the regulatory state, you know, the one that keeps citizens safe and healthy. If you mean the intelligentsia, they are being cowed, threatened, and fired into submission ... most will start looking for a clean exit to Europe very soon. So which elite do you mean?

bigbadfeline• 12 months ago

are they just this pathetic? or do they largely see this as personally beneficial?

They don't "see this", they control it.

I am endlessly fascinated by how almost the entire American elite has just accepted... policy being driven by idiotic childish whims

There's nothing idiotic, childish or whimsy - bread for some, circuses for the rest - it's a scheme old as the world. The reality show isn't real.

yongjik• 12 months ago

Half of American voters elected an idiot based on such nice slogans as "Drain the swamp" and "Own the libs," and the said idiot is appointing to essential government positions other idiots who would be politely shown the door in any meeting of social "elites" if America was a sane country.

Sure, the elites of America have a lot of power, but they don't have enough power to override the combined force of the POTUS and half of the country. What do you expect them to do?

This has all the same vibe as "How could Democrats let it happen?" (Yes, Democrats does have a lot of faults. But I'm tired of everything somehow being Democrats' fault.)

lazyeye2• 12 months ago

"But I'm tired of everything somehow being Democrats' fault"....lol

scrubs5• 12 months ago

I keep writing and in my personal conversations with Trump people and moderates i keep reminding: overshooting stupid far right will lead to stupid far left. We don't need that either. Time and time and time again power structures flaunt justice, due process etc. It never lasts. It's a crap shoot what comes next if what's going goes too far: will it be an enlightenment movement? The political equivalent of luther nailing up his complaints? Or a repeat of 20th century revolutions. Om the whole in the long run people don't put up with run away kings and all the BS of palace intrigue that goes with it.

Control without accountability never lasts

Whoppertime• 12 months ago

Perhaps Joe Biden and the progressives were overshooting the last 4 years, leading to the excesses of Trump

5555624• 12 months ago

That's still cheaper than the current GAO estimate for the new Boeing 747-8 Air Force One replacements. The current estimate, for two, is $5.6 billion and they won't be ready until 2029. (The original cost was $3.9 billion.)

cr125rider• 12 months ago

He has stated he will keep it after leaving the presidency. So it’s now a $6.6 billion dollar project.

EA-3167• 12 months ago

He says a lot of things, why should we assume that this is the rare occasion of him telling the truth? Note that I don't particularly want our president flying in a golden jet either, and think he's a complete waste of carbon, but the question remains.

jrs2353• 12 months ago

And what's the cost going to be for delaying nuclear modernization?

freeopinion4• 12 months ago

"Nuclear modernization" in this context is not some effort to make nuclear power plants safer or more efficient. It is a couple hundred billion dollars to replace 450 nuclear missiles with 600 other nuclear missiles. Something like $500 million per operational missile.

So the cost is presumably something like 2 missiles. But don't worry, the project is already years behind schedule. The first $75 billion bought us exactly 0 operational missiles in the 15 years since the contract was awarded to the only bidder.

intermerda• 12 months ago

Why not let the Qataris do the renovation themselves? It would be even cheaper! Hell, let's do away with Air Force One altogether - let Trump conduct government business from any gold plated plane he likes to travel on.

cosmicgadget• 12 months ago

Certainly this fund reallocation will cover the whole thing.

nunez• 12 months ago

It won't be enough for what the intention of these funds is for. I'm more concerned about the plane being a cover-up for other expenses...

mdaniel• 12 months ago

https://archive.ph/BLyal

JohnTHaller• 12 months ago

Completely on brand for Republicans

US Government takes $1B from nuclear modernization for gold-plated jet

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