General Dynamics
Defense & Aerospace · Lobbying Client
General Dynamics's Federal Lobbying Record
General Dynamics's disclosed federal lobbying spend of $38.6M places it among the top-tier spenders tracked here — organizations that put real, recurring dollars behind their federal advocacy. Spending at this level usually involves a dedicated in-house team, multiple outside firms, and steady quarterly filings rather than one-off campaigns tied to a single bill.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, General Dynamics's annual disclosed lobbying spend has declined modestly — from $9.0M in 2020 to $7.0M in 2024, a change of -21%. Step-changes of this size often coincide with major bills moving through Congress, regulatory rulemakings affecting the organization's industry, or a leadership change in the relevant committee.
General Dynamics's disclosed lobbying covers 6 general issue areas — a moderate footprint. Filers in this range tend to engage on a coherent cluster of related topics rather than spreading effort across the federal agenda.
9 of 26 lobbyists reported by General Dynamics (35%) disclose prior federal government service. That share is common at established government affairs operations that explicitly hire from agency and committee staff.
Among the named bench, lobbyists with disclosed prior federal service include Elizabeth M. Davis (Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative); Howard M. Berman (Former Commissioner, FCC); Margaret M. Taylor (Former Chief Counsel, House Ways & Means Committee). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Defense & Aerospace sector, General Dynamics ranks #5 of 36 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is Lockheed Martin at $69.2M; the sector average is $12.6M. General Dynamics's $38.6M sits 206% above the sector average.
General Dynamics's LobbySpend Influence Score of 63/100 (grade B) reflects significant federal lobbying reach. The score blends disclosed total spend, issue breadth, and revolving-door connections — lobbyists with prior federal government service. A B-grade typically means the organization is well above average on at least two of those three signals, with sustained activity over multiple years rather than a one-off spike.
Every figure above is sourced from Senate lobbying disclosure filings submitted under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Per-issue dollar splits and covered-position flags are filer-reported and may be amended after initial submission.
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Annual Lobbying Spend
Policy Issues
Government Entities Contacted
Recent Filings
| Period | Registrant | Issues | Lobbyists | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Oct-Dec | Van Scoyoc Associates | MARGOVHOM+1 | 1 | $1.5M |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | DLA Piper | DEFSCIHOM+1 | 2 | $1.6M |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Capitol Counsel | HOMMARGOV+1 | 3 | $1.6M |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Van Scoyoc Associates | BUDDEFGOV+2 | 4 | $1.8M |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Jones Day | GOVMARDEF | 2 | $1.9M |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Stewart & Stewart | BUDGOV | 3 | $1.4M |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | DEFBUD | 1 | $1.9M |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Venable LLP | BUDHOM | 2 | $1.8M |
General Dynamics Lobbying FAQ
General Dynamics has spent $38.6M on federal lobbying across 6 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
General Dynamics lobbies on 6 policy issues, including Defense, Budget/Appropriations, Homeland Security, Marine/Maritime. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
General Dynamics has an Influence Score of 63/100 (Grade B). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
General Dynamics employs 26 registered lobbyists, of whom 9 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
General Dynamics has contacted 9 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including Dept of Energy, Dept of Justice, Securities & Exchange Commission.
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Lobbying data is sourced from quarterly Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings with the Senate Office of Public Records. Influence Scores combine total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%). Filings may be amended after initial submission.