Better Health for All

General Dynamics' core business segments, Combat Systems and Marine Systems, produce combat vehicles, weapons systems, munitions, submarines, and surface combatants, which are inherently designed for warfare and cause severe, widespread health damage. However, its GDIT subsidiary provides significant health-positive services. GDIT secured a 10-year, $2.5 billion contract to modernize the Indian Health Service's electronic health record system, aiming to improve healthcare access and quality for 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives and address health disparities

. GDIT also holds a $286 million contract for Medicare benefits coordination and a $450 million contract to modernize CMS's financial systems , both contributing to healthcare access and sustainability for millions of beneficiaries. Additionally, GDIT supports medical research and development for the Defense Health Agency and was awarded $380 million in contracts for EPA initiatives, including securing drinking water infrastructure, which contributes to public health safety .

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

General Dynamics Corporation primarily operates in the aerospace and defense sectors, and its core business activities do not directly involve financial services, lending, or deposit services to consumers.

As such, KPIs related to consumer financial products, such as underserved client share, pricing fairness, exploitative fee exposure, data accessibility, fair lending compliance, wealth building outcome, financial literacy initiatives, debt burden ratio, geographic inclusion, and product simplicity, are not applicable and score 0. While the company supports small businesses, including minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, through Mentor-Protégé Programs and supply chain partnerships, these initiatives do not constitute a 'loan/insurance book' or direct financial inclusion programs as defined by the inclusion initiatives KPI, resulting in a score of 0. No specific percentage of annual pre-tax profit reinvested in community finance or profit-sharing with underserved communities is provided, leading to the omission of that KPI.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In November 2024, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that General Dynamics' subsidiary, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO), underpaid 36 Mexican workers on temporary visas in San Diego.

These workers were paid in Mexican pesos below the federal minimum wage, leading to a recovery of over $1.4 million in back wages and damages. NASSCO also signed a compliance agreement to prevent future violations. In May 2025, a U.S. appeals court reinstated a proposed class action lawsuit against General Dynamics and other shipbuilders, alleging they suppressed wages for naval architects and marine engineers through a 'no-poach' agreement. Furthermore, in June 2023, union members at General Dynamics Mission Systems protested a two-tier pay system that resulted in a significant pay disparity of approximately $10 per hour between employees hired before and after 2014. Earlier, in September 2018, the National Labor Relations Board charged General Dynamics with unfair labor practices for allegedly threatening workers involved in union activities. The company also settled an age discrimination class action lawsuit for $2.5 million in April 1996, related to pension benefit disparities during a 1992 layoff.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

The provided article details General Dynamics Corporation's commitment to ethical sourcing and human rights through policies, including a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy that states zero tolerance for human trafficking, child labor, and forced labor

. The company also maintains a Supply Chain Management Council and a Supplier Diversity Program that partners with small and diverse businesses . However, the article does not provide specific quantitative data points required by the rubric to score any KPIs, such as percentages of fair-trade certified spend, audit frequencies, numbers of forced or child labor incidents, supply chain traceability coverage, remediation speeds, ethical clause coverage in contracts, or the percentage of procurement budget directed to diverse suppliers.

Honest & Fair Business

General Dynamics operates with a comprehensive ethics program, which includes a Standards of Business Ethics and Conduct Handbook, periodic ethics training for all employees, and a 24-hour ethics helpline.

The company's corporate Ethos emphasizes ethical practices, transparency, and honesty. General Dynamics has a human rights policy and a statement against modern slavery and human trafficking with supply chain management processes. In 2023, shareholders requested a Human Rights Impact Assessment report, which the company opposed, citing its existing human rights strategy. This proposal received a 25.10% shareholder vote. Critics have noted a lack of transparency in the company's policies regarding product human rights impacts. General Dynamics acknowledges potential exposure to U.S. government audits and investigations, including claims for fines, but anticipates no material financial impact. Past incidents include a 2018 NLRB charge against a subsidiary for threatening workers involved in union activities and a 2018 link between a company component and a school bus bombing in Yemen, recognized as a war crime.

No War, No Weapons

General Dynamics' core business is heavily tied to military and defense operations. In 2024, its Combat Systems and Marine Systems segments, directly involved in military and defense, collectively accounted for approximately 48.92% of the company's total revenue.

The company has not divested from defense-related assets, and its business model remains significantly involved in weapons production. General Dynamics states it is not involved in activities prohibited by international accords related to landmines and cluster munitions.

Planet-Friendly Business

General Dynamics has committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 40% by 2034.

The company achieved a 6% reduction in these emissions by 2023. Additionally, carbon intensity decreased by 13% since 2019.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

No specific, quantifiable evidence was found in the provided articles to assess General Dynamics Corporation against the defined KPIs for 'Respect for Cultures & Communities'. While historical interactions with the Navajo Nation

and general corporate responsibility policies are mentioned, the articles do not provide concrete data points such as the number of formal partnerships, percentage of revenue reinvested locally, details on cultural impact assessment protocols, local employment ratios, or specific cultural preservation investments required by the rubric. Information about the proportion of Navajo management at a single facility or general training for leadership roles is not sufficient to meet the specific quantitative thresholds of the KPIs.

Safe & Smart Tech

In October 2024, a phishing attack compromised 37 employee accounts at General Dynamics, prompting immediate response and notification efforts.

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) joined NIST's AI Safety Consortium in November 2024 to develop standards for addressing AI system complexities. Through its Luna AI Digital Accelerator, GDIT aims to assess large language models and mitigate AI risks, aligning with its commitment to safe AI technologies.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

General Dynamics achieved a 72.39% waste recovery rate in 2023

and has set a company-wide target to reach a 70% waste recycling rate by 2024. The company implements numerous waste reduction initiatives, including NASSCO's in-house recycling center , the reuse of over 125,000 gallons of excess fuel annually , and a compaction line that reduced trash truck hauls from six to one per day. Bath Iron Works reduced its solid waste by 6.5% from 2022 to 2023 , and Electric Boat treats over 100,000 gallons of industrial wastewater annually. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada has a detailed supplier packaging manual that mandates the use of recyclable and reusable packaging materials for purchased parts , prohibits certain non-sustainable materials like PVC film , and includes non-conformance penalties for non-compliance. Gulfstream also uses recyclable packaging and returnable containers. However, General Dynamics has a record of serious hazardous waste management and disposal violations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited the company for seven violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act at a missile components plant , including failures in hazardous waste determination, container management, and emergency planning , with a proposed fine of $373,600. An earlier citation in 2010 involved similar violations at another facility , resulting in a $38,500 fine.