https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/02/contractor-gaza-profits-white-house-gothams
US contractor sent Gaza plan to White House that would secure 300% profits
Gothams LLC’s draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopoly
The draft plan from Gothams LLC would allow it to collect a fee for every truck moving goods into Gaza, and charge for the use of its warehousing and distribution system.
The Guardian first reported in December that Gothams was the frontrunner for a lucrative deal that would be doled out by a future Trump-chaired Board of Peace, but the scale of the profit margin was not clear.
Though the firm’s CEO, Matthew Michelsen, told the Guardian in December he was halting his proposal, a company partner is still involved, records show, and a new Gaza supply system (GSS) is being discussed by administration officials and businesspeople affiliated with Trump’s Board of Peace. Michelsen declined to talk to the Guardian for this story.
Chris Vanek, a partner at Gothams, has been coordinating with White House officials about 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 army officer, in response to questions about this story.
“The Board of Peace, Palestinian and Israeli stakeholders, and the US Department of State asked me to assist with planning efforts based on my extensive experience in conflict zones, reconstruction, and disaster response. There is no existing agreement or contract, and I have provided this assistance at my own expense in support of peace efforts,” it said.
A spokesperson for Gothams later added that Vanek “has not had any discussions regarding financing, investment, or returns, and any suggestion otherwise would be inaccurate”.
They did not respond directly to questions about the profit margins or proposed exclusivity agreement outlined in the November draft.
Charles Tiefer, an expert on federal contracting law who sat on the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the terms listed by Gothams are outrageous. “There’s never been a US government contract that had triple returns on capital, not in 200 years. To make 25% is considered good,” he said. “Having spent three years looking at contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, this looks like highway robbery.”
The Austin-based firm has received government contracts in the past, including its most recent work supporting operations at the notorious South Florida detention center, a tent camp for migrants, which was dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” and criticized for potential human rights violations.
The scale of Gaza’s reconstruction project is worth more than $70bn, according to the United Nations, which estimates that three-quarters of Gaza’s buildings have been reduced to rubble and 90% of the region’s residents have been displaced.
Donald Trump, who has also described Gaza’s potential as “the Riviera of the Middle East”, serves as the chair of the Board of Peace. He installed Kushner, his son-in-law, and other allies on its “executive board” in January and named a slew of countries as members.
Kushner talked about “amazing investment opportunities” while he stood on stage in Davos during the unveiling of the Board of Peace. He laid out a master plan that envisioned rebuilding the Mediterranean coast as a tourism and commerce hub, including eight planned cities, a new port and an advanced manufacturing hub.
Any reconstruction work will hinge on groups’ ability to ferry new materials into Gaza. Israel has long-controlled the entry and exit of goods to the Palestinian territory and has placed restrictions on key materials like generators and cement.
While Kushner did not release details about upcoming contracts or plans, White House officials – including two former “department of government efficiency” (Doge) officials operating under Kushner – have been planning out potential business deals for months.
The White House referred questions to a state department Gaza taskforce.
Eddie Vasquez, a state department spokesperson for the White House efforts on Gaza, did not discuss the specifics of Gothams’ proposal, but told the Guardian: “No procurement process or contracting mechanism has been stood up as the Board of Peace was just recently formed and announced. While informal conversations may have taken place, all this remains TBD.”
A draft plan printed on Gothams’ letterhead proposes a “fully integrated humanitarian logistics system” that meets best commercial practices and US government standards for aid delivery.
The Gothams draft proposal says “Customer” – the Board of Peace – “agrees to a minimum three (3) times return on capital expenditure”. The document also calls for “exclusivity to the Contractor for seven (7) years with a three (3) year subsequent option period”.
The Guardian has obtained another draft slide deck produced by promoters of GSS, dated January 2026, offering a return on investment (ROI) of 46% to 175% to “sovereign investors” in the first year alone.
Three people familiar with the process say that Board of Peace and White House officials are courting investments from sovereign wealth funds, such as the UAE’s Mubadala, to fund reconstruction projects like the Gaza support system. Kushner didn’t refer to GSS in his Davos presentation but called for investors to put their money into reconstruction efforts.
“We need to come, take faith, invest in the people, try to be a part of it,” he said.
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