UNITED STATES
US President, Donald Trump’s initial favourite to head the Department of Defence, Patrick Shanahan (pictured) is in trouble amid an ethics investigation and a series of unimpressive public performances, sources say.
Mr Shanahan, who has been acting in the position since the resignation of Jim Mattis in December, has also been hampered by the deadly crashes of two airliners manufactured by his former employer, Boeing.
The sources said Mr Shanahan is still in the mix for the job, but recent events and his own missteps haven’t done him any favours with Mr Trump.
Some said his fate will remain uncertain until the Defence Department’s Inspector General finishes a probe into allegations that Mr Shanahan had privately boosted Boeing during meetings at the Pentagon.
“With so much scrutiny on the crashes that killed a total of 346 people, it’s enough to have the Boeing stench on you to hurt chances for a nomination right now,” a former Defence Department official told journalists.
A senior White House official said the Inspector General’s investigation had slowed the process and there were quite a few people who wanted to see the report before moving forward, “including President Trump”.
“He’s paying close attention, as he has always done with those he’s considering for top positions,” the official said.
Washington, DC, 24 March 2019
