Boeing under microscope in Washington after high-profile accidents

Congress is eyeing increased government oversight of Boeing after a series of high-profile accidents sparked multiple investigations into the company’s business practices and temporarily barred the aircraft maker from increasing production. .

Boeing Co. is under intense scrutiny after a panel was blown off one of its 737 Max 9 airliners during a flight on January 5th. An investigation revealed that the bolts securing the plug were not installed, and the plug erupted on the Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff. .

The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Boeing last week after the company admitted it could not find records of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) search of work done on its factory panels.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also investigating Boeing, with FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker citing “issues surrounding safety culture.”

“Their priority was production, not safety or quality. So what we’re really focused on now is moving that focus from production to safety and quality,” Whittaker said Tuesday. He told NBC’s “Nightly News” in an interview that aired on Sunday.

Lawmakers have made it clear they want these changes, and legislation could soon be enacted to ensure they happen.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees Boeing and the FAA, said Congress will “no doubt” take further action on the issue. .

Cantwell told The Hill that senators first need to hammer out a long-term reauthorization of the FAA, which is due by May 10. It would provide for increased numbers of aviation safety inspectors and stronger oversight instructions for the FAA.

The committee will then meet with FAA officials and manufacturers to “discuss whether any additional changes are needed.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the committee’s ranking member, also said the FAA “undoubtedly” needs to increase its oversight of Boeing given recent safety incidents. said.

“This is an ongoing issue. Obviously, what has happened at Boeing in recent months is very concerning. The NTSB is working on an investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident. We will continue that investigation to its conclusion. “We need to be able to do that,” he told The Hill.

“The challenges we have seen recently have raised real and significant concerns and concerns that need to be addressed.”

Asked if the FAA should increase its oversight of Boeing, Mr. Cruz said “absolutely,” but did not know whether he or his colleagues would propose legislation or resolutions to ensure that. It was not stated explicitly.

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), also a member of the committee, said he and his fellow committee members believe Congress needs to further strengthen the FAA’s oversight of aircraft manufacturers. He said that he believes that efforts should be made, saying: , “Boeing is a mess.”

A Boeing spokesperson told The Hill on Wednesday that the company is “taking significant steps to strengthen Boeing’s safety and quality.” We focus on demonstrating change and building trust one machine at a time. With increased oversight from ourselves, the FAA, or others, we will be better off. ”

After an FAA audit earlier this month found “multiple noncompliance issues with Boeing’s manufacturing process controls, parts handling and storage, and product controls,” the regulator ordered Boeing to resolve the issues. He was given 90 days to come up with a plan.

Meanwhile, the FAA has barred Boeing from increasing production until it proves it has improved safety standards, Whitaker said.

Separate report Federal aviation experts released last month identified “gaps” in the airline’s safety culture.

The review, which began before the Alaska Airlines explosion, includes strengthening employee understanding of safety culture and procedures, establishing an autonomous investigation process, and improving the anonymity of Boeing’s “Speak Up” program. Several safety recommendations were included, including ensuring safety and creating safety processes. Gather informal safety-related reports to supervisors and managers.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the audit and review provided a “clear picture of what needs to be done.” Mr. Calhoun also promised to develop a plan to bring about the “significant changes” required by the FAA.

Boeing is implementing weekly compliance checks on all 737 work cells and safety measures to review and reduce “travel work” when manufacturing continues if a manufacturer indicates a part is not available during final assembly. It said it had already implemented measures to strengthen safety, including introducing a management system.

But Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose agency also includes the FAA, said Tuesday that there are “significant concerns about Boeing’s quality control.”

“Every time I fly, I know I’m participating in America’s safest transportation system. And I know the people who work hard to keep it that way. , which is part of why we’re pressuring Boeing so hard,” Buttigieg said at an Axios event in Washington.

Boeing said the company has “taken significant steps to foster a safety culture that allows and encourages all employees to share their opinions.” But there is still much work to be done. ”

“We will carefully consider the committee’s assessment and learn from its findings as we continue our comprehensive efforts to improve our safety and quality programs,” a spokesperson said.

A Boeing spokesperson told The Hill that the company takes responsibility for the accident and prioritizes transparency with lawmakers and regulators, adding that since the Jan. 5 accident, Boeing’s internal lobbying team has He pointed out that he is in contact with each member’s office.

Boeing’s vast network of lobbyists is playing a key role in helping the company communicate with lawmakers and policymakers as the investigation continues. Boeing is one of the world’s largest aviation and defense companies and has the largest lobbying force in Washington.

Boeing spent more than $14.4 million on federal lobbying efforts in 2023, according to federal lobbying disclosures analyzed by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan political finance research nonprofit organization. It was the 15th largest spender among organizations.

Of the 109 lobbyists who registered to work on behalf of Boeing in 2023, nearly three-quarters, or 78, had previously worked for the federal government, including former members of Congress, according to OpenSecret. It is said that five people are included.

Last year, 17 companies registered to lobby Boeing on issues including FAA reauthorization, defense spending, funding for NASA’s aviation programs, and health care and employee benefits issues.

Boeing has revamped its lobbying efforts over the years in the wake of fatal 737 Max 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The airline giant hired Ziad Ojakli as vice president of government operations in October 2021, and three longtime Boeing lobbyists stopped lobbying on behalf of Boeing at the end of the year.

“We were very proud of the work we had done for Boeing for almost 10 years. We were surprised when we were let go, but we know there are others who feel the same way. I think so,” CGCN partner Sam Geduldig told The Hill.

A former Boeing consultant told The Hill there was a risk “of just firing a bunch of really well-connected people who were working on very sensitive issues.”

“They’ve created a lot of enemies. Having angry consultants everywhere probably doesn’t help now,” they say.

Boeing has already made major changes to its lobbying efforts this year: Cornerstone Government Affairs stopped lobbying He joined Boeing at the end of February after working together in Washington for more than 14 years.

The company has reported receiving more than $3.2 million in lobbying fees from Boeing since first registering to lobby the airline giant in 2010, including $320,000 last year. There is. A Boeing spokesperson said the company regularly reviews its contracts with consultants and that the two companies have “parted amicably.”

The Hill has reached out to Cornerstone for comment.

“We remain focused on the issues at hand – safety and quality – and are focused on being as transparent as possible to all stakeholders. “We continue to communicate transparently and effectively with stakeholders and policymakers,” a Boeing spokesperson said.