‘You’re the Problem’: Hawley bashes Boeing CEO for putting profits over safety

WASHINGTON — Today in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Boeing’s safety failures and his lack of accountability as CEO.

“I think the truth is Mr. Calhoun, you’re not focused on safety, you’re not focused on quality, you’re not focused on transparency […] I think actually you’re focused on what you were hired to do which is that you’re cutting corners. You are eliminating safety procedures. You are sticking it to your employees. You are cutting back jobs because you’re trying to squeeze every piece of profit you can out of this company,” said Senator Hawley.

Senator Hawley pressed Mr. Calhoun on his salary of nearly $33 million while the company under his leadership has persistent quality and safety issues.

He continued, “For the American people, they’re in danger. For your workers, they’re in peril. For your whistleblowers, they literally fear for their lives, but you’re getting compensated like never before.”

In response Mr. Calhoun said, “Senator I don’t recognize any of the Boeing you described.” He continued to say that he was proud of Boeing’s safety record and every action Boeing has taken.

“I think the American public, when they fear to get on their airplanes, they understand your safety record. And frankly sir, I think it’s a travesty that you’re still in your job,” Senator Hawley concluded.