WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A government watchdog group has targeted Air Force plans to spend millions of tax dollars to acquire new “comfort capsules” for the top brass when they travel.

The Air Force would use the special units to be loaded onto large military aircraft like the C-17, KC-10, C-130 and KC-X.

But when the Air Force sought to upgrade the new units and fill them with “world class” leather seats, flat screen TVs, and other extras, the Project On Government Oversight stepped in.

Nick Schwellenbach, POGO National Security Investigator, said when he first learned of the level of spending he was shocked, but wanted to learn more to see if the expenditures could in any way be justified.

In an interview with WHIO-TV.COM, Schwellenbach said he began by looking at the contract documents and found the capsules offer no operational advantages.

The new accommodations, Schwellenbach said, offer no special communications abilities and were actually more luxurious than the unit used by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Internal emails indicate even Air Force acquisition personnel began to question the project, especially when it came to cost.

“A lot of people expressed frustration with the program and thought it was a waste of money because the senior leaders already have fairly nice accommodations,” Schwellenbach said.

The Air Force requested $16 million for the special capsules, intending at first to purchase ten, but later reducing the plan to acquire three.

The money was to come from federal funding set aside to fight terrorism.

Much of the increased cost is due to the luxurious accommodations.

The latest figures show the project will cost $7.6 million.

“In the Defense Department they think of hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars as chump change and there was no one watching,” Schwellenbach said.

Schwellenbach said one change order in the project cost more than $68,000, to switch the color of the leather seats.

The Washington Post broke the story in the media, with a headline that screamed “Terror Funds May Pay For Top Brass To Fly In Style.”

In response, the Air Force defended the project in a written statement.

"Having these pallets on airlift and refueling aircraft provides an 'office in the air' and will allow senior leaders and dignitaries to perform their duties while traveling," said Air Force Director of Maintenance Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon.

The statement provides details on the two kinds of transport units to be acquired.

The first, called the Senior Leader In-transit Pallet, amounts to a conference area with special seating. Four SLIPs would cost $290,000 a piece.

The second, called the Senior Leaders In-transit Conference Capsule, would initially cost $2.7. Two additional SLICCs would cost $1.9 million.

Tell us what you think about it by emailing News Center 7 at 7online@whiotv.com.

Check out the Project On Government Oversight website by clicking here.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com