Pentagon contractors’ repair restrictions waste billions while compromising military readiness

The US military’s readiness has been hampered for years by Pentagon contractors’ restricting who can repair key equipment. Service members, from sailors on the troubled Littoral Combat to Air Force F-35 mechanics, repeatedly face red tape that prevents them from fixing vital systems, instead forcing them to wait weeks for authorized contractors to fly in. The consequences: delayed missions, wasted taxpayer dollars, and safety risks for personnel, per the Project on Government Oversight.

Defense companies often designate technical data, manuals, or even machine parts as “proprietary,” limiting a unit’s ability to make simple fixes. Momentum for change is building.

In the civilian sector, “right-to-repair” laws recently allowed McDonald’s to service its own infamously glitchy ice cream machines, and Apple has loosened restrictions on device repairs. Advocates stress that, unlike everyday consumers, DOD wields immense purchasing power—the Pentagon could demand the right to repair in its contracts, saving billions and boosting readiness.