Rory Kennedy likens brother's HHS role to Boeing's leadership failures

Rory Kennedy told Obsessed: The Podcast that competence is essential for leaders of critical institutions, whether the U.S. Health and Human Services department or the nation’s top airplane maker. She argued that her brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lacks the professional background needed for his role at HHS, drawing a parallel to Boeing’s decline after CEOs without engineering experience took charge. Kennedy’s new Netflix documentary, Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing, alleges that quality control deteriorated under former GE executive James McNerney’s tenure beginning in 2005, citing whistleblower John Barnett’s testimony and a 2024 Alaska Airlines door-panel failure.

She also condemned her brother’s alignment with President Trump and his anti-vaccination stance, labeling it a betrayal of their family’s values and endorsing Kamala Harris instead. The film highlights past 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that led to a worldwide grounding. Kennedy now refuses to fly on Boeing’s 737 MAX or 787 Dreamliner, suggesting JetBlue as an alternative. Freefall is currently streaming on Netflix.