In a major win for the Right to Repair movement, the U.S. Army is set...
In a major win for the Right to Repair movement, the U.S. Army is set to include repair rights in all new procurement contracts and revise existing ones, allowing military personnel to maintain and fix their own equipment without over-reliance on defense contractors.
The Right to Repair refers to the ability of users, whether civilians or service members, to access the tools, parts, and information required to repair the products they use.
While it’s long been a focus for consumer advocacy, the military’s adoption marks a new high point for the movement, potentially paving the way for broader national reforms.
On April 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent out a memo to senior Pentagon leadership addressing Army transformation and acquisition reform, including a directive to accelerate modernization, cut costs, and improve equipment readiness.
Central to that agenda is a push to include Right to Repair provisions in all procurement contracts, removing barriers that have long prevented service members from fixing their own gear.
Key policy shift in Army procurement
The official memo instructs the Army to identify and revise contract terms that limit access to the software, technical data, and tools needed for repair and maintenance, without violating intellectual property protections.
“To accelerate modernization and acquisition efficiency, the Secretary of the Army shall … Seek to include right to repair provisions in all existing contracts and also ensure these provisions are included in all new contracts,” the memo reads.
The policy comes as part of a broader Department of Defense effort to modernize acquisition practices, reduce inefficiencies, and improve operational readiness by giving the military more autonomy in managing and maintaining its equipment.
Repair restrictions have long hurt military readiness
For years, maintenance challenges caused by restrictive contracts have impacted readiness in the field.
Ex-Captain Elle Ekman described in a 2019 New York Times column how, due to contractual obligations, she could not repair equipment during a training exercise in Japan and had to ship engines overseas instead, costing valuable time and operational capacity.
Retired Master Sgt. Wesley Reid encountered similar issues in Afghanistan.
In a PIRG interview, he described being denied access to essential manufacturer data and having to improvise repairs to critical medical devices used to treat wounded soldiers, raising serious concerns about safety and preparedness.
Contractor lock-in proves costly and dangerous
Such constraints come at an enormous financial cost.
The Pentagon estimates that maintenance and repair contracts can account for up to 70% of a program’s total expenditures.
One investigation uncovered a 7,943% markup on a soap dispenser for a military aircraft.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has long pushed the Pentagon for reform. “This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months and months to get the equipment they need repaired,” she said in an official statement.
Advocates want action across all military branches
While this move marks a significant breakthrough, advocacy groups say more is needed. The Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act—introduced by Warren and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Pérez—would extend these protections across all branches and contracts.
Though the memo is strong, the wording allows for some discretion, stating the Army will “seek” to include repair rights. That leaves space for manufacturers to push back, something advocates like PIRG warn is likely.
Still, with the largest U.S. military branch leading the charge, the momentum for repair rights, both military and civilian, has never been stronger.