Acting defense secretary recuses himself from anything having to do with Boeing, which is a lot of things
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan won't get involved with billions of dollars of Boeing deals.
Shanahan, who until Tuesday was the department's deputy secretary, worked at the aerospace company for 31 years. He used to have a system set up preventing him from make decisions regarding Boeing, but affirmed Wednesday that he "has recused himself for the duration of his service in the DOD ... from participating in matters" involving Boeing, a spokesperson said.
The Wednesday announcement means a big chunk of defense decisions will bypass the man heading the department. The department doled out $13.7 billion to Boeing in September 2018 alone, and issued billions more in contracts throughout 2018, CNBC points out.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The decision also marks a change from how Shanahan interacted with Boeing when he was deputy to former Defense Secretary James Mattis in 2017 and 2018. Shanahan had a "screening arrangement" that alerted his and Mattis' staffers to Boeing-related decisions and "instruct[ed] them to refer certain matters to another official," The Seattle Times reported. Still, Shanahan apparently "prodd[ed]" the Pentagon to request $1.2 billion for Boeing fighter jets in December, Bloomberg says.
Shanahan replaced Mattis after his resignation in late December. Mattis originally planned to leave in late February, but Trump sped up his departure and announced that Shanahan would take over at the end of 2018.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'A speaker courageous enough to stand up to the extremists in his own party'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 18, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - impeachment Peanuts, record-breaking temperatures, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Post Office's Capture software to be reviewed over 'glitches'
Speed Read Solicitor representing accused postmasters says flaws in the IT system follow 'very similar pattern' to Horizon
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published