Spirit AeroSystems has been ordered by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to provide documents related to manufacturing defects that caused the grounding of numerous Boeing planes, as well as information on the company’s decision to terminate whistleblower Joshua Dean after he reported the defects. Additionally, Paxton’s request for information raised concerns about the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy possibly being linked to recent dangerous incidents.
The spokesman for Spirit, Joe Buccino, stated that while they do not comment on investigations, the company is committed to delivering high-quality products to all their customers, including Boeing. However, Paxton’s request is part of a broader trend among conservative policymakers and influencers who blame diversity initiatives for various failures in American corporations.
In his order, Paxton required Spirit to provide evidence supporting their claim that a diverse workplace improves product quality, enhances performance, and helps the company make better decisions. He also asked for an explanation of how employee demographics in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, and age have changed since the implementation of the DEI policy in 2022.
Out of Paxton’s 14 demands for information from Spirit, four specifically focus on the company’s diversity and hiring programs. This development comes as part of a larger conversation about the role of DEI policies in corporate operations, with some pointing to them as potential causes for certain issues within companies.
