A US disaster response agency has submitted a plan to White House officials that guarantees 300% profits and a seven-year monopoly on a new trucking and logistics plan for Donald Trump’s peace council. Gazaaccording to a November proposal obtained by the Guardian.
A draft plan from Gothams LLC would allow a fee to be charged for each truck that moves goods Gazaand charge for the use of its warehouse and distribution system.
The Guardian First reported In December, Gothams was the frontrunner for a lucrative deal with Trump as president in the future Peace Councilbut the scale of the profit margin is not clear.
Although the firm’s CEO, Matthew Michelsen, told the Guardian in December that it was shelving its proposal, the company’s partner is still involved, records show, and the new Gaza Supply System (GSS) is being discussed by administration officials and businessmen affiliated with Trump’s Board of Peace. Michelsen declined to speak to the Guardian for this story.
Chris Vanek, a partner at Gothams, has been coordinating with White House officials about the GSS in recent weeks, according to two sources familiar with the process and records reviewed by the Guardian.
A Gothams spokesperson emailed a quote from Vanek, a former military officer, in response to questions about this story.
“I have been asked by the Peace Council, Palestinian and Israeli stakeholders and the US Department of State to assist in planning efforts based on my extensive experience in conflict zones, reconstruction and disaster response. There is currently no agreement or agreement and I have provided this assistance at my own expense to support peace efforts,” it said.
A Gothams spokesperson later added that “Vanek has not had any discussions regarding financing, investment or returns, and any suggestion otherwise is inaccurate.”
They did not directly respond to questions about the profit margins outlined in the November draft or the proposed exclusive deal.
Charles Tiefer, an expert on federal contract law who sat on the commission on wartime contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the terms Gothams listed were outrageous. “Not in 200 years, there has never been a US government contract that has tripled returns on capital. Doing 25% is considered good,” he said. “After spending three years looking at contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, this looks like highway robbery.”
The Austin-based firm has won government contracts in the past, including its most recent work supporting operations at the infamous South Florida detention center, a tent camp for immigrants it called “Alligator Alcatrazand criticized for potential Violation of human rights.
The Gaza reconstruction project is worth more than the scale $70bnaccording to the United Nations, three-quarters of Gaza’s buildings are in ruins and 90% Residents of the area were displaced.
Donald Trump is also there explained Gaza’s potential as “The Riviera of the Middle East” serves as the presidency Peace Council. He appointed Kushner, his son-in-law and other friends to its “executive board” in January, and named several countries as members..
Kushner stood on stage at the unveiling of the Peace Board in Davos and spoke of “fantastic investment opportunities”. He laid out a master plan that envisioned rebuilding the Mediterranean coast into a tourist and commercial center, including eight planned cities, a new port, and advanced manufacturing centers.
Any reconstruction work will depend on the groups’ ability to transport new materials into Gaza. Israel has long controlled the entry and exit of goods into Palestinian territory and imposed restrictions on key materials such as generators and cement.
Although Kushner has not released details about upcoming deals or plans, White House officials — including two former “Division of Government Efficiency” (Doge) officials who served under Kushner — have been plotting potential business deals for months.
The White House referred questions to the State Department’s Gaza Task Force.
Eddie Vasquez, the State Department spokesman for the White House’s efforts on Gaza, would not discuss the specifics of Gotham’s proposal, but told the Guardian: “There is no procurement process or contracting mechanism in place because the peace board was recently formed and announced. Although there have been informal conversations, it all remains TBD.”
The draft plan, printed on Gotham’s letterhead, proposes a “fully integrated humanitarian logistics system” that meets best commercial practices and US government standards for aid delivery.
Gotham’s draft proposal is “Customer” – Board of Peace – “Capital Agrees to a return of at least three (3) times the cost,” it says. The document also calls for “contractor exclusivity for seven (7) years with a further option period of three (3) years.”
The Guardian has obtained another draft slide deck by GSS’s promoters dated January 2026, offering “sovereign investors” a return on investment (ROI) of 46% to 175% within the first year.
The Board of Peace and White House officials are seeking investments from sovereign wealth funds such as the UAE’s Mubadala to fund reconstruction projects such as the Gaza Support System, three people familiar with the process said. Kushner did not mention GSS in his Davos presentation but called on investors to put their money into restructuring efforts.
“We are Come, gain confidence, invest in the people and try to be a part of it,” he said.
