BUSINESSES HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Financial Information for Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 25, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Operations
Sales of goods and services		$ 0		$ 6,165
GE Capital revenues and other income (loss)		(76)		39
Cost of goods and services sold		0		(5,155)
Other costs and expenses		(89)		(870)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations before income taxes		(165)		179
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(9)		(70)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations, net of taxes		(174)		109
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(4)		3,518
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0		(964)
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(4)		2,553
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(178)		2,663
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations attributable to the Company after income taxes		(172)		76
Assets
Assets		3,653			$ 4,109
Liabilities
Liabilities		139			203
Baker Hughes disposal group
Operations
Sales of goods and services		0		5,616
GE Capital revenues and other income (loss)		0		0
Cost of goods and services sold		0		(4,677)
Other costs and expenses		0		(787)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations before income taxes		0		152
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(13)		(82)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations, net of taxes		(13)		70
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		(4)		0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0		0
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		(4)	$ (8,238)	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(17)		70
Transportation
Operations
Sales of goods and services		0		549
GE Capital revenues and other income (loss)		0		0
Cost of goods and services sold		0		(478)
Other costs and expenses		(4)		(9)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations before income taxes		(4)		62
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		7		(12)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations, net of taxes		3		50
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		0		3,471
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0		(963)
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		0		2,508
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		3		2,558
GE Capital
Operations
Sales of goods and services		0		0
GE Capital revenues and other income (loss)		(76)		39
Cost of goods and services sold		0		0
Other costs and expenses		(85)		(74)
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations before income taxes		(161)		(35)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(3)		25
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations, net of taxes		(164)		(10)
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes		0		47
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0		(2)
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes		0		45
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(164)		$ 35
Discontinued Operations
Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		437			638
Investment securities		170			202
Current receivables		63			81
Financing receivables held for sale (Polish mortgage portfolio)		2,371			2,485
Property, plant, and equipment		117			123
Deferred income taxes		211			264
All other assets		285			317
Assets		3,653			4,109
Liabilities
Accounts payable & Progress collections and deferred income		22			40
All other liabilities		117			163
Liabilities		139			203
Discontinued Operations | Transportation
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes	$ 3,471
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes	$ 2,508
GE Capital Exit Plan | Discontinued Operations
Liabilities
Discontinued operations, intercompany tax receivables		$ 880			$ 839