SHANAHAN UNDER INVESTIGATION: The Department of Defense inspector general’s office has opened an investigation into complaints that Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan may have exerted improper influence by touting his former employer Boeing while bad-mouthing its major competitor Lockheed Martin.

The Pentagon decided to buy fewer Lockheed Martin fighter jets next year in favor of more upgraded F-15s made by Boeing, a decision budget officials say was made by former defense secretary Jim Mattis, not Shanahan, who has recused himself from matters affecting Boeing.