Lockheed Martin Faces Allegations of Racial Bias in Bonus Allocations

Washington, D.C. — A former employee of Lockheed Martin claims that the aerospace giant prioritized race over merit when determining year-end bonuses. This allegation emerged following a report in City Journal, based on correspondence from an anonymous whistleblower.

The whistleblower alleges that in December 2022, he was instructed by senior management to alter the list of employees eligible for bonuses after it reportedly contained “too many white employees.” Internal communications suggested managers should replace white employees with minority ones regardless of their job performance. “I got a call from [human resources director] La Wanda [Moorer] regarding diversity stats on comp adder,” wrote Santiago Bulnes, a Lockheed vice president, in an email.

The directive raised concerns about ethical practices and potential legal risks. The whistleblower attempted to express dissatisfaction with this policy, noting that it was discriminatory. However, company management seemingly dismissed these concerns, characterizing the choice as the “lesser of two evils.”

“The preference is for you to get there,” Moorer stated in response to the whistleblower’s inquiry about finding adequate minority candidates. The whistleblower ultimately claims he replaced 18 white employees with minority employees on the bonus list. “I have actively discriminated against higher performing individuals,” he wrote in his resignation letter. “This forces a violation of my conscience that forces me to leave.”

In a statement responding to the claims, Lockheed Martin insisted that the company operates as a meritocracy and is dedicated to recognizing and rewarding excellence. “The allegations as reported raise concerns that we are taking seriously and are investigating,” a spokesperson said.

The situation unfolds amid changing civil rights enforcement under the Trump administration. An executive order recently prohibited federal contractors from maintaining discriminatory programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As this story continues to develop, it highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding diversity initiatives in corporate environments.