Here is a list of words and you decide which one is the odd one out. Ready? Go!
Safety
Collaboration
Accountability
Innovation
Trust
Respect
Raytheon.
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Although in some respects Raytheon might be innovative and collaborative, the rest of parent company RTX’s purported values are far from embodied by the American defense contractor (1).
The company started in 1922, originally creating refrigeration components (2). But what started as a benign operation shifted into one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers. Now renowned for their advanced military technology, Raytheon stocks some of the world’s heftiest arsenals (3).
As we continue our Indignant Society series, the inextricable linkages between corporate America and the government are most clearly a recurring theme. Raytheon does its work in this regard through the use of PACs—giving campaign contributions to help sway lawmakers to draft in their favor (4).
This fact is just an inevitable part of the modern political landscape, but Raytheon’s relationship with the U.S. government is not only long distance. What is known as the “revolving door” between the Pentagon and defense contractors brings former government employees–inlcuding high-ranking individuals–into the fold of Raytheon and its contemporaries. They then assume the roles of lobbyists themselves, advocating as representatives for their company’s interest (5).
Of course, after spending years in the DoD, these former employees know their way around the government. When lobbying is fundamentally a game of influence, it becomes problematic to have people like this leave to join defense contractors. Those who relocate to Raytheon had once been part of an organization ostensibly tasked with the safety and security of this nation’s citizens, and funded by their tax dollars. Now they court the same department they used to work for.
Take the face-palm-inducing case study of Shay Assad, appointed as the DoD’s Director of Pricing in 2011 by the Obama administration. While serving his term at Raytheon, Assad was promoted to Senior Vice President, Contracts. In this role he was responsible for negotiating contracts on behalf of Raytheon, and of course, this included contracts with the government (6).
To have an individual so specifically tied to contract acquisition at Raytheon become the Director of Pricing is rationally a clear conflict of interest. The Director of Pricing is clearly poised to aid defense contractors, even more so if it is their previous employer. That said, according to the U.S. guidelines, it did not go against codified ethics–revealing the great shortcomings in today’s legislation (5). With our current situation this practice is not scandalous, it is lawful and accepted behavior.
And while the U.S. government is expected to work for its people, It is not Raytheon’s objective per se to act in the utmost interest of citizens. As a for profit business, Raytheon simply wants to rake in the green and please the shareholders. Of course, that being the case, it is not going to use its former government employees to aid in democracy. Rather, it is going to use them to increase defense spending and ensure that their pockets are well lined.
That fact is clearly reflected in their choice to support election deniers. After the storming of the capital on January 6th, Raytheon, along with other companies, decided to take a break from contributions to ponder over their approach. Raytheon, of course, took it as an opportunity to show their support for democracy. This respite, however, was brief, as they then decided to take a blatantly contradictory course (7).
They sent $186,000 to 62 congress members who voted to not validate the Biden election (7). So much for democracy I guess.
The rest of Raytheon’s political spending, however, does more than just encourage disarray at home, it also works against civilians abroad. You see, as Raytheon gives contributions and lobbies various agencies, they are working to promote an agenda that is conducive to their economic success. When you are a defense contractor, that means promoting hawkish behavior–be it nonoptimal for some and life changing for others.
For the American, taxpayer dollars are spent towards opulent and excessive weapons purchases (5). For the international, it means being the outlet for outsized Pentagon spending, and the subject of tireless war (5).
…
In Yemen, today’s conflict has caused undue struggle for much of the population. It began when the Houthis, a militant group backed by Iran, took control of the internationally recognized government. In order to reestablish the previous authority, a Saudi-backed coalition was formed (8).
The U.S. has been aiding Saudi Arabia throughout the conflict. Quite arguably, morally, this is not the fight the U.S. wants to be involved in. Human rights violations are easily implicated, and the U.S. is far from blameless. U.S. supplied weaponry deployed in Yemen has been used to destroy non-military infrastructure (9).
Yemen’s economic state had already been poor, but with the destruction, necessities are far from reach. Medicine, electricity, and food, are all targets of reckless strike campaigns spearheaded by Saudi Arabia (9).
In one shameful case, the “threat” took the form of a water well (10). In the village of Arhab, civilians pooled the capital to construct a harmless well. Unfortunately, the day that they reached water while drilling, the terrorizing began.
At least 12 bombs dropped were confirmed by their craters. While the initial strikes had served to destroy the well, many successive explosions ensued as pilots followed civilian targets, ending with 31 civilian casualties. A report by the Saudi-backed coalition stated the well may have been a missile launcher.
What enables the precise targeting of such facilities is the advanced technology that is provided by Raytheon and others. While one might hope guided missile technology increases safety and reduces damage to non-combatants, that can only be the case when this corresponds to the intention of pilots and militaries (10)
It would be quite difficult to believe that Raytheon does not know its weaponry is used so damningly. Of course they know, and that does not stop them from supplying their arms. And if you were waiting for it, yes, Raytheon is hoggishly profiting from Israel’s genocide in Gaza (3).
Enough said?
…
Reading helps us understand a bit more about the key players in global oppression. Unfortunately, much of the information about Raytheon’s involvement with governments and contracting remains opaque. The lack of such information denies the oversight that is so critical to protect the distant victims in Yemen, Gaza, and elsewhere.
Put your support behind local campaigns targeting Raytheon facilities, and push for transparency. Get your representatives to demand hearings for defense contractor accountability. Unite between peace, transparency, and government accountability groups.
Support the lawsuits and initiatives against Raytheon that are already present.
Remain hopeful,
Kufi Productions
Bibliography
- Our Values [Internet]. www.rtx.com. Available from: https://www.rtx.com/who-we-are/our-values
- Amir A, Weiss S. Raytheon Company [Internet]. www.britannica.com. 2024. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/money/Raytheon-Company
- Perez A, Campbell N, Warner J, Stockton L. Military Contractors Are Framing the Israeli War on Gaza as a Win for Investors [Internet]. jacobin.com. 2023. Available from: https://jacobin.com/2023/10/raytheon-general-dynamics-gaza-israel-war-military-industrial-complex
- RTX Corp Profile: Summary [Internet]. OpenSecrets. 2024. Available from: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/rtx-corp/summary?id=D000072615
- Smithberger M. Brass Parachutes: The Problem of the Pentagon Revolving Door [Internet]. POGO. 2018. Available from: https://www.pogo.org/reports/brass-parachutes
- Shay D. Assad [Internet]. AUSA. 2017 [cited 2025 Sep 21]. Available from: https://www.ausa.org/people/shay-d-assad
- Verma P. Raytheon quietly resumed political donations to election deniers, report finds [Internet]. BostonGlobe.com. 2022. Available from: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/03/business/raytheon-quietly-resumed-political-donations-election-deniers-report-finds/
- Robinson K. Yemen’s Tragedy: War, Stalemate, and Suffering [Internet]. Council on Foreign Relations. 2023. Available from: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/yemen-crisis
- Human Rights Watch. Bombing Businesses [Internet]. Human Rights Watch. 2016. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/07/12/bombing-businesses/saudi-coalition-airstrikes-yemens-civilian-economic-structures
- Now D. From Arizona to Yemen: How Bombs Built by Raytheon in Tucson Killed 31 Civilians in Yemeni Village [Internet]. Democracy Now! 2018 [cited 2025 Sep 21]. Available from: https://www.democracynow.org/2018/12/17/from_arizona_to_yemen_how_bombs__
