Major defense contractors prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion while regularly missing deadlines related to a multitrillion-dollar aircraft modernization effort. Despite this, they received sizable bonuses designed to incentivize on-time delivery from the Biden administration.

Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney were the two primary contractors tasked with assisting the Defense Department in “fielding and modernizing” F-35 fighter jets. Aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin ranged from a low of 16 days late on average in 2021 all the way up to an average of 238 days late in 2024, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. Jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, meanwhile, only managed to deliver two engines on time for the entire period between 2021 and 2024 while working on the modernization effort.