Boeing Faces Uphill Battle with New Lobbying Team

A major restructuring of Boeing's lobbying team is underway as the company grapples with a new aviation safety crisis. The current situation has raised doubts about whether the revamped lobbying team can manage government scrutiny more effectively than the previous team, which was deeply entrenched in aviation policy. The company's lobbying operation has been in a rebuilding phase since the 2018 and 2019 crashes involving the 737 MAX 8 jets, which led to increased skepticism about Boeing's safety protocols and the oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The reshuffling of Boeing’s D.C. influence team, including more than a third of its registered federal lobbyists since 2019, will add an additional level of difficulty as the company responds to this month’s blowout of a door plug in a 737 MAX 9 over Oregon. The new registered lobbying crew, with backgrounds in associations or companies such as Ford rather than with airlines, plane manufacturers, or the FAA, lacks the depth of expertise and connections with relevant authorities. Amidst the current crisis, some lawmakers and officials have called for investigations into Boeing and the FAA’s oversight. The recent incident involving the 737 MAX 9 jets has further complicated the situation, prompting the FAA to ground the U.S. fleet of these jets for inspections. Boeing's CEO has emphasized the company's focus on safety, transparency, and effective communication with government officials and policymakers. This upheaval in Boeing’s lobbying team follows the departure of several in-house lobbyists and termination of relationships with outside lobbying firms. The effectiveness of the new team's efforts is under scrutiny, with some observers questioning their ability to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and rebuild relationships with lawmakers. While Boeing remains a prominent player in the aviation and defense industry, its recent challenges underscore the uphill battle faced by its new lobbying team.