Boeing announced on Wednesday that it would move its headquarters from Virginia to St. Louis, Missouri.
The defense contractor employs about 18,000 people in the St. Louis area, where they manufacture aircraft and munitions.
“It’s important for leaders to be side-by-side with our teammates, listening to their feedback and acting to remove obstacles as we continue to stabilize and strengthen our business,” said Steve Parker, Boeing Defense, Space & Security CEO.
“The headquarters move, coupled with our senior leaders being based at and spending their time at major engineering, production and manufacturing centers across the U.S., reflects our continued focus on disciplined performance across our business,” he continued.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke during the announcement of Boeing’s move.
Watch below:
🚨🇺🇸 Sec Hegseth announced Boeing Defense just moved its headquarters from DC to St. Louis.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 18, 2026
Defense jobs are leaving Washington and going back to the heartland where things actually get built.
Source @SecWar https://t.co/1Df8leiXD7 pic.twitter.com/fC41XUCx1v
Fox News has more:
Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe hailed the move as a major “win for the heartland.”
“Missouri is the best place in the nation for aerospace and defense manufacturing, and having the Boeing Defense headquarters back where it belongs is a win for our workers and a win for the heartland,” said Kehoe, adding, “We are proud to see this leadership return to the production floor where the real work of defending our nation happens every day.”
The departure comes just over a month after Spanberger took office as Virginia’s governor. Though she campaigned as a pragmatic centrist, critics have said her day-one actions depict a very different approach.
“St. Louis is the heart of America’s defense industry. Our workers have built the greatest machines used by our military & will make America’s next-generation fighter plane. Proud to join @SecWar at Boeing today to celebrate our workforce and commit to peace through strength,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO).
St. Louis is the heart of America's defense industry.
— Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) February 19, 2026
Our workers have built the greatest machines used by our military & will make America's next-generation fighter plane.
Proud to join @SecWar at Boeing today to celebrate our workforce and commit to peace through strength🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aw8zwH3WWG
Before moving to Arlington, Virginia, Boeing had its headquarters in St. Louis from 1997 to 2017.
“Boeing is progressing on a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment in the world’s most advanced combat aircraft production facilities, including in St. Louis. The site has a rich history designing and manufacturing some of the world’s most innovative spacecraft and most advanced and innovative tactical aircraft,” Boeing stated.
“By aligning leadership with the workforce and investing in state-of-the-art facilities, Boeing is poised to strengthen its core business and drive innovation in defense solutions for the U.S. military and global allies,” it added.
Hegseth signed a steel beam at Boeing’s newest factory in St. Louis.
Footage below:
.@SECWAR just signed a steel beam at Boeing’s newest factory in St. Louis, Missouri. pic.twitter.com/EK1FbGXMPc
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) February 18, 2026
St. Louis Public Radio shared further:
Three facilities in St. Louis County, St. Charles and across the river in Mascoutah, Illinois, make up Boeing’s regional presence.
Late last year, St. Louis-area machinists went on strike for 15 weeks — the longest in the company’s history — over pay and benefits for members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 union.
The strike ended in November after voters approved a fifth contract proposal from Boeing.
