Congress Kills Military "Right to Repair"
2 days ago
- #military budget
- #defense contractors
- #right to repair
- The 'right to repair' proposal, which would allow service members to fix their own equipment, was removed from the National Defense Authorization Act due to defense contractor lobbying.
- Bipartisan support existed for the proposal, including from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tim Sheehy, aiming to reduce reliance on contractors for repairs.
- Defense contractors opposed the measure, arguing it would harm innovation and force them to disclose trade secrets.
- Operations and maintenance costs make up 40% of the Pentagon’s budget, partly due to concurrent development of weapons systems leading to costly fixes.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports 'right to repair' provisions in new contracts, but it remains a suggestion rather than a mandate.
- The article also highlights concerns about Trump's authoritarian actions, including ignoring court orders and undermining press freedom.