Military Right to Repair Reform
Congress and the Department of Defense are advancing right to repair reforms that could redefine readiness, logistics, and innovation across the military.
For years, service members have been limited in what they can fix, even when they know how. A broken part often meant waiting for a contractor or shipping an entire system back home for repair.
A provision in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would give the Pentagon new authority to let troops and maintainers perform approved repairs using manuals, tools, and digital parts libraries that are often locked behind manufacturer agreements.
Advocates describe it as one of the most practical readiness reforms in decades, with broad bipartisan support.
Dr. Guido Rossi, a research fellow at the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, said
the issue is directly tied to readinessin written responses to questions from Military.com.
Author's summary: Military right to repair reform advances.