Washington, D.C. — Following news that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a non-prosecution agreement, in exchange for a $1.1 billion settlement, with The Boeing Company for criminal charges relating to Boeing defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in connection with the 737 MAX aircraft program, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.

“More than six years after two horrific Boeing 737 MAX accidents claimed 346 lives, the Trump DOJ is letting the company pay its way out of any accountability,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation & Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Despite a trove of new evidence from whistleblowers, inspectors, and aviation experts, and even after another terrifying MAX incident last year, the Trump-Vance admin is once again siding with a massive and politically-connected corporation over public safety. This isn’t just a betrayal of the victims and their families, but sends a chilling message: even the most egregious corporate misconduct will be tolerated if a company is powerful enough and backs the right administration.”

In 2021, Boeing entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ, but in 2024 the Department determined Boeing had breached its obligations, only to enter into a proposed plea agreement that subsequently was rejected by a federal court in December. Family members of those killed onboard the two MAX crashes called the most recent deferring prosecution a “sweetheart deal” and one member stated: “The message that is sent to Corporate America is: Don’t worry about killing your customers.”

Boeing is the nation’s largest aircraft manufacturer and exporter, as well as a leading defense contractor and lobbyist. In January, the company donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, and then earlier this month Boeing’s CEO accompanied the President to Qatar to sign an agreement with Qatar Airways for 210 aircraft, at the infamous conference when that government offered Trump the gift of a Boeing 747.

Last July, Economic Liberties and a coalition of aviation experts, safety advocates, and public interest groups sent a letter to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the DOJ to pursue a full criminal prosecution of Boeing.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.