Pentagon Will Probe Accusations Acting Defense Secretary Used Office to Help Boeing

Acting Defense Secretary and former Vice President of Boeing Patrick Shanahan will be investigated by the Pentagon’s Inspector General over allegations by a watchdog group that he has abused his interim power to promote the interests of his long-time employer.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington cited the Pentagon’s push for funding of Boeing fighter jets in the 2020 budget proposal, and said he had repeatedly made comments praising Boeing at official meetings about contracts.

Though Shanahan had signed a promise to avoid any conflicts of interest related to Boeing when he joined the administration, the watchdog said he acted as a “finger on the scale” for Boeing in contracts, and had also made comments criticizing Lockheed Martin in certain major competitions with Boeing.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said the probe into Shanahan was long overdue. This is likely to be a major issue going forward, as Shanahan was never confirmed by the Senate, and so far there is no sign of Trump actually nominating a new Defense Secretary.