Fact check: Defense firm General Dynamics has not yet announced vaccine mandate

The claim: General Dynamics canceled its vaccine mandate after employees threatened to walk out

A rumor on social media falsely claims a global aerospace and defense company has backed down from requiring its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

A Facebook user shared a post Sept. 18 with this text: "Breaking: General Dynamics Corporation cancels vaccine mandate after roughly 40% of employees decline the jab and threaten to walk out." The post generated close to 2,100 shares in less than three weeks.

Other social media users , including Carl Higbie, a former U.S Navy SEAL and conservative media personality, shared similar claims.

But the claim is false. General Dynamics told USA TODAY it hasn't made any announcements about vaccine mandates.

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USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment.

Company refutes mandate rumors

Jeff Davis, head of communications at General Dynamics, said the rumors circulating on social media are baseless.

"To date we have made no announcements about vaccine mandates. We are awaiting detailed guidance from the federal government about its vaccine mandate for contractors," Davis said.

The General Dynamics website also has no announcements about vaccine mandates.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Sept. 9 requiring most federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The order will include exceptions for workers seeking religious or medical exemptions, according to the Associated Press.

"It describes a process for how the government will develop and implement its guidance," Davis said.

General Dynamics is one of the world's top defense contractors by sales. It manufactures tanks and other products for the U.S. military.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that General Dynamics canceled its vaccine mandate after employees threatened to walk out. The company told USA TODAY there have not yet been any announcements of vaccine mandates.

Our fact-check sources:

• Jeff Davis, Sept. 21, Email exchange with USA TODAY

• Associated Press, Sept. 20, General Dynamics didn’t cancel a vaccine mandate

• USA TODAY, Sept. 9, Biden pushes to get public, private sector workers vaccinated; LA school district mandates student vaccines: Live COVID-19 updates

• The White House, Sept. 9, Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors

• CNBC, Jan. 10, 2019, American firms rule the $398 billion global arms industry: Here’s a roundup of the world’s top 10 defense contractors, by sales

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: General Dynamics vaccine mandate hasn't been announced yet