On May 13, 2025, during US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, a deal was announced that includes an arms package valued at nearly $142bn. The agreement involves multiple US defense companies supplying military weapons and technology to Saudi Arabia, linking them directly to an authoritarian regime.

During a defense industry conference alongside the NATO summit, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and other officials called on defense companies to align their business practices with democratic values and support long-term defense commitments, emphasizing the importance of robust private-sector engagement in safeguarding democratic alliances against authoritarian regimes.

The article highlights how major US defense companies remain deeply entrenched in a permanent war economy through decades of successful lobbying and securing lucrative Pentagon contracts, despite union efforts advocating for conversion to peace-focused industries. This continued reliance on militarism and resistance to anti-war labor initiatives underlines corporate complicity in perpetuating an authoritarian military-industrial complex.

An investigation by OpenSecrets reveals that major US defense companies are channeling millions into lobbying efforts aimed at influencing the US defense budget and policy in favor of arms sales to foreign nations, raising concerns over the ethical implications of aligning with authoritarian interests.

In the first half of 2023, defense contractors, including those represented by Defense Companies, spent nearly $70 million lobbying the federal government ahead of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The lobbying focused on issues such as the procurement of F-35 aircraft and other defense-related contracts, reflecting a strong effort to shape U.S. defense policy in favor of increased military spending.

The article documents a long-term decline in union strength at major defense contractors. It details how companies, including historically significant ones like Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney, have repeatedly engaged in anti-union practices such as aggressive outsourcing, subcontracting, and labor de-unionization tactics. These measures have eroded collective bargaining power and deteriorated workers’ rights over several decades.

New US government regulatory actions, including an interim DFARS amendment effective June 9, 2023, reinforce the requirement for defense contractors to conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure the absence of forced labor. These measures, which include updates under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, underscore the importance of ethical supply chain practices among defense companies.

Union officials at the Rock Island Arsenal, an Illinois Defense Department facility, allege that management unilaterally imposed a new collective bargaining agreement without proper negotiations over management rights mandated by a Biden executive order. The union contends that over 20 contract articles were changed without agreement, undermining workers' rights and violating federal labor law.

Data from OpenSecrets shows that defense companies spent approximately $141.8 million on lobbying in 2023, highlighting significant corporate efforts to influence U.S. policy in the defense sector.

An OpenSecrets report from February 25, 2021, details how major U.S. defense companies leverage extensive lobbying efforts and revolving door practices to influence defense policy, secure massive campaign contributions, and maintain close ties with regulatory bodies. The report highlights controversial arms sales to authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, raising concerns about undue political influence and regulatory capture.