General Dynamics spends $2.7 million on 2Q lobbying for defense budgets, wireless network

General Dynamics spends $2.7M on 2Q lobbying

WASHINGTON — Aerospace and defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. spent $2.72 million during the second quarter lobbying on its wireless network system and various budgets.

That was more than the $2.6 million the company spent lobbying in the second quarter of 2009, and the $2.25 million it spent in the first quarter.

The defense industry faces uncertainty over the direction of Pentagon weapons spending. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken steps to tighten budgets and hold contractors more accountable for cost overruns. The military is also buying more high tech tools that can be used to fight shadowy insurgents, forcing companies to adjust from their traditional reliance on building big weapons meant for conventional wars.

General Dynamics lobbied for a say on the budgets of several defense agencies, Homeland appropriations for a wireless network, tax credits on research and development and other matters in the April through June period.

General Dynamics lobbied the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, Transportation, NASA and more during the filing made July 20 with the House clerk’s office.