A federal judge has ordered Boeing and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to clarify how diversity and inclusion policies are shaping the selection of an independent monitor—a crucial step in finalizing Boeing’s plea deal to avoid trial.
During a hearing, Judge Reed O’Connor pressed the DOJ and Boeing to submit detailed responses by October 25, questioning how diversity commitments influence the monitor appointment. This inquiry comes as the judge weighs whether to accept Boeing’s guilty plea for conspiring to deceive the Federal Aviation Administration. As part of the agreement, Boeing would operate under the oversight of an independent monitor for three years.
Boeing is attempting to finalize the plea deal to avert a public trial tied to its role in misleading regulators following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which claimed 346 lives. The judge emphasized that Boeing had raised no objections to diversity-related provisions during negotiations with the DOJ.
Judge O’Connor also requested that Boeing disclose how its internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts influence its ethics and compliance programs. In the proposed agreement, Boeing committed to a $487.2 million fine and at least $455 million in safety and compliance improvements over the three-year probation period.
During Friday’s hearing, relatives of crash victims urged the judge to reject the deal, arguing it fell short of accountability. The DOJ defended the agreement, stressing the importance of moving forward with Boeing’s guilty plea and monitoring framework.
Boeing has yet to comment publicly on the judge’s latest order, but a DOJ spokesperson confirmed the department will comply with the court’s request.
