The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026 removes language that would have given the U.S. military the authority to repair its own equipment instead of requiring it to use official defense contractors for maintenance, according to a statement from the Public Interest Research Group. The bill is still being considered by Congress, but it is uncertain whether it is likely to be reintroduced after the authority to repair language is removed.
“Despite support from Republicans, Democrats, the White House and key military leaders, troops will continue to wait for repairs they can make themselves,” Charlie Schuyler, US PIRG Legislative Associate, said in a statement from the organization. “Taxpayers will continue to pay the increased costs. And in some cases, troops may not be able to get the equipment they need most.”
A bipartisan bill from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Sheedy was introduced earlier this year to give the military the right to repair access. This topic has been a more piecemeal affair for the general public in the US, with some states making their own laws and federal regulators occasionally intervening to provide consumers more options for repairs.
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