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The right to repair Provisions in National Defense Authorization ActThe bill, which would secure funding for the U.S. military in 2026, will likely be struck from the bill’s final language despite enjoying broad bipartisan support, sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations told WIRED.
They say provisions in the law that enable military service members to repair their own equipment will likely be removed entirely, and replaced with a data-as-a-service subscription plan that benefits defense contractors.
Right to I will fix it It has become a thorny issue in the army. If a drone, a fighter jet, or even a stove malfunctions on a Navy ship, U.S. military service members in the field won’t always be able to fix the problem themselves. In many cases, they need to call a qualified repair person, approved by the manufacturer, and bring them to the site to fix the problem.
The Army wants to avoid this hassle by giving personnel the tools and materials needed to make their own repairs in the field, and has repeatedly called on Congress to enable it to do so. but, Some in Washington The United States is trying to neutralize the proposed right-to-repair provisions — a move advocated by defense contractor groups that sell the military the things they want to repair as well as the means to repair them, and stand to lose if the military is empowered to make its own repairs.
It has passed different versions of the NDAA Senate and house The process is now in the conference stage, where lawmakers meet to merge the versions into a single draft law. The final language is expected to be released by next week; After votes in both chambers of Congress, the bill will then move to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime supporter of reform legislation, added Sec. 836 for the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act, a provision inspired by the National Defense Authorization Act Veteran’s Right to Repair Act Submitted in July. It called for contractors to be required to provide the US Department of Defense “the rights to diagnose, maintain, and repair covered defense equipment.”
The ruling was also similar It was added to the take-home version of the National Defense Authorization Actwhich was introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers, Republican of Alabama president From the House Armed Services Committee. (Ranking Representative Adam Smith of Washington also spearheaded the bill.) 863 is a “requirement for contractors to provide reasonable access to repair materials.” In essence, it would enable military service members to repair their own items without having to rely on the manufacturer, saving time and taxpayer money.
“Military leaders, service members, the White House, and hundreds of small businesses all agree that this bipartisan right to fix reforms is desperately needed,” Warren said. Roll Cole Last week. The major defense contractors fighting these reforms are more interested in devising new ways to pressure our military and our taxpayers than they are in strengthening our national security.