RELEASE: Idaho Delegation Briefing Request: Qatari Air Force Facility at Mountain Home AFB

The following email addressed to Idaho’s congressional delegation was submitted by Sen. Christy Zito:

Date: October 12, 2025

Subject: Idaho Delegation Briefing Request: Qatari Air Force Facility at Mountain Home AFB

To:
The Honorable Mike Crapo
The Honorable Jim Risch
The Honorable Mike Simpson
The Honorable Russ Fulcher

United States Congress
Washington, D.C.

Dear Senators Crapo and Risch, and Representatives Simpson and Fulcher:

Thank you for your continued efforts to support President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in rebuilding a strong and capable U.S. military.

As members of the Idaho State Legislature, we are deeply concerned by the recent agreement formalized by the Department of War allowing the State of Qatar to establish a dedicated air force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB). This agreement supports the permanent basing of a Qatari F-15QA fighter jet squadron for joint training with U.S. forces.

The rise of radical Islamic terrorism remains a serious concern for many Americans. This agreement does little to ease those fears. Equally troubling is the lack of consultation with Idaho’s state leadership prior to announcing this deal. This decision by the federal government directly impacts the communities represented by Senator Christy Zito and Representative Faye Thompson, whose districts include Mountain Home Air Force Base and its surrounding areas.

In the interest of informing our constituents, promoting government transparency, and collaboration between federal and state legislators, we respectfully request answers to the following questions:

How many Qatari personnel will be included in the training mission?
What is the expected duration of their deployment?
What are the housing arrangements for Qatari personnel? Will they reside on or off base? Will families be allowed to accompany them, and what restrictions, if any, will be placed on their travel within the state?
What is the total cost to American taxpayers to house, train, and feed foreign military personnel?
How is this program being funded, and under what federal authority?
How does this agreement align with the constitutional purpose of the U.S. military, which is to defend the United States and her borders, rather than to train foreign forces?
What assurances exist that training foreign militaries on U.S. soil does not compromise national or state security? How can both America’s and Idaho’s safety be guaranteed under this arrangement?
What screening, intelligence, or vetting processes are in place to ensure that no trainees have ties to hostile or extremist organizations?
Are any other foreign militaries currently stationed in Idaho besides those from Qatar and Singapore?
What are the political implications of having both Singapore and Qatar operating from the same airfield?
What specific security concerns exist for the surrounding communities and for U.S. military personnel stationed at Mountain Home AFB?
Is there a long-term plan to convert Mountain Home AFB into a multi-national training facility for multiple foreign allies?

Given the significance of this agreement and the concerns it raises, we respectfully request a formal briefing for members of the Idaho State Legislature from the Department of War and Mountain Home AFB to provide clarity regarding the scope, purpose, and impact of this partnership in our state. We respectfully request that your offices assist in coordinating this meeting at your earliest convenience.

We appreciate your attention to these matters and your continued advocacy for Idaho and the nation’s security interests.

Sincerely,

Senator Christy Zito, District 8, Mountain Home
Representative Faye Thompson, District 8, McCall
Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld, District 24, Twin Falls
Senator Josh Kohl, District 25, Twin Falls
Representative Lucas Cayler, District 11, Caldwell
Representative Kent Marmon, District 11, Caldwell
Representative Clint Hostetler, District 24, Twin Falls
Representative David Leavitt, District 25, Twin Falls