In December, the Air Force signed a $23.6 million contract with Boeing to replace two of Air Force One's five "cold chiller units," or refrigerators, and on Monday, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) said the Air Force and White House Military Office had decided to scrap that contract. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson had informed Courtney in a May 29 letter that "while not optimal, mitigation options exist to ensure food security" on Air Force One until the next generation of presidential aircraft replaces it in the mid-2020s, though if those planes are delayed, she added, the Air Force will have to revisit the refrigerator replacement.
Courtney, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, had raised concerns about the contract, and he applauded its cancelation. "Clearly, the Air Force is making the right decision [to] cancel the previously announced sole-source contract and hit restart on this process," he said in a statement. "Even with the understanding that the Air Force One mission brings with it unique requirements and challenges, a $24 million sole-source contract just didn't pass the smell test."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The hunt for Planet NineUnder The Radar Researchers seeking the elusive Earth-like planet beyond Neptune are narrowing down their search
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostagesSpeed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 yearsSpeed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for UkraineSpeed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawaterSpeed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
