A Navy Held Hostage by Contracts
On the USS Gerald R. Ford, a Navy aircraft carrier serving 15,300 meals daily, six of eight ovens sat broken. Sailors, capable of operating advanced systems, couldn't fix them. Navy Secretary John Phelan shared this frustration with the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 10, 2025. Intellectual property restrictions forced the crew to wait for contractors, stalling operations. This poses a glaring threat to our military's effectiveness and drains taxpayer dollars.
Phelan's account doesn't stand alone. Elevators on the same ship failed, and again, the Navy had to summon the manufacturer for repairs. In a war zone, such delays could spell disaster. How can we trust our forces to prevail if they can't maintain their own equipment? The Department of Defense is starting to confront this issue, with Army directives paving the way, but the Navy's struggle shows the battle is just beginning.
The core problem is clear: contractor-controlled contracts prioritize corporate profits over military readiness. When proprietary rules block service members from fixing gear, our forces lose agility. A May 2025 PIRG poll found 74 percent of voters want the military to have repair rights, reflecting widespread public demand for change. The issue centers on ensuring our troops can act when it matters most.
Some defend these restrictions, arguing they protect innovation and ensure quality. Yet, when contractors hold our military hostage, charging high fees for basic fixes, the real cost is measured in delayed missions and weakened defenses. With global threats growing, from supply chain risks to cyberattacks, we can't afford to outsource our resilience.
The right-to-repair movement, now gaining ground in the Pentagon, offers a solution. By empowering service members to handle repairs, we restore control to those who serve, ensuring our military remains ready for any challenge. This is a fight for self-reliance, and winning it is crucial.
Paying Too Much for Too Little
The financial burden of contractor dependence is undeniable. Oversight reports show that operating and support costs eat up 70 percent of a weapon system's life cycle, with contractor employees costing nearly three times more than DoD civilians. Examples pile up: F-35 maintainers face data restrictions, causing delays, and a drone was shipped back for $26,000 to fix a loose cable. These incidents are symptoms of a system that favors contractors over taxpayers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's May 2025 order to include right-to-repair clauses in Army contracts marks a turning point. By enabling soldiers to use tools like 3-D printing for parts, the Army aims to reduce costs and speed up fixes, bypassing firms like Boeing or RTX. Phelan's testimony suggests the Navy is ready to follow, but swift action is needed to address these inefficiencies.
Industry voices claim IP protections fuel innovation, but their high-priced service calls tell a different story. The Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, despite its ties to Senator Elizabeth Warren's broader agenda, pushes for fair pricing and data access, principles that align with fiscal responsibility. Policies prioritizing the military's needs, rather than corporate bottom lines, are essential.
History offers a lesson. In World War II, the Army Service Forces trained repairmen and sent parts to the front, enabling rapid fixes that kept operations running. Today, with $1.6 trillion F-35 costs and repair backlogs, contractor dominance undermines that legacy. Right-to-repair restores the self-sufficiency that once defined our military strength.
Securing Our Future
Right-to-repair is a national security necessity, extending beyond mere cost savings. Our supply chains, reliant on foreign minerals and vulnerable to cyberattacks, face constant risks. A 2025 Air Force study highlights how global networks invite disruption. If conflict cuts off contractor support, will our ships sit idle? Right-to-repair equips service members to maintain gear in any environment, ensuring operational strength.
The FY 2025 NDAA's efforts to map foreign drone components and bolster domestic production align with this goal. By reducing dependence on offshore vendors, we rebuild our industrial base. Right-to-repair complements this strategy, allowing troops to bypass delays and keep critical systems running, no matter the circumstances.
Some argue contractors offer expertise beyond what troops can provide. Yet, our service members master complex technology daily. Blocking their access to repair tools undermines their training and morale. Proponents argue that in-house repairs, when allowed, are faster and more cost-effective, proving our troops are ready to take charge.
Time to Act
The solution is straightforward. The Pentagon needs to adopt right-to-repair policies across all branches, as Air Force leaders supported in May 2025. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll's stance, refusing contracts without repair clauses, sets a clear standard. Congress needs to pass the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act to enforce fair pricing and data access, while the DoD revises rules to secure better IP terms.
This effort empowers our military to operate independently, extending beyond mere budgetary considerations. When sailors can repair their own equipment, they build confidence to handle any challenge. That autonomy strengthens our defense and respects the taxpayers who fund it. Action is needed now to break free from contractor control.
Our military's readiness hangs in the balance. By embracing right-to-repair, we ensure our forces are agile, efficient, and prepared. Let's give our service members the tools they need to keep our nation secure. The time for change is here.