Bipartisan Push to Empower Troops to Repair Their Equipment

With the United States spending nearly $900 billion every year on the Department of Defense (DOD), two senators are joining forces to tackle what they see as an obvious problem: military servicemembers often can’t fix their equipment.

Senators Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana, introduced the Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025. The bill would guarantee troops the ability to repair weapons and vehicles themselves instead of relying on costly and slow defense contractor services.

Currently, the DOD depends heavily on private defense companies to supply and maintain essential equipment. These contractors often claim intellectual property protections that prevent the military from accessing technical data, repair manuals, and spare parts. As a result, even a basic repair can mean waiting weeks or months for delays that become even more dangerous for troops stationed overseas.

“It’s common sense for members of our military to be able to fix their weapons,” Senator Warren said in a statement. “Senator Sheehy and I are fighting to improve military readiness and save taxpayers billions. It’s about time we stood up to Pentagon contractors that are squeezing every last cent from us at the expense of our national security.”

If passed, the legislation would require all new and existing contracts with defense suppliers to include “right to repair” provisions. That means contractors would have to provide access to parts, tools, and technical information on fair and reasonable terms.

Support for the bill is already growing. Groups such as the Project On Government Oversight, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups have endorsed the measure. Many advocates argue that allowing troops to repair their equipment will not only save money but also keep them safer by ensuring critical gear is operational when it’s needed most.

The financial stakes are high. DOD spending represents about half of all federal discretionary spending and around 13% of the entire federal budget. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed seven consecutive full financial audits since 2017, raising concerns over systemic inefficiencies and a lack of fiscal transparency.

Steve Ellis, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, put it plainly: “Pentagon contractors have been making billions on monopoly-priced repair contracts that undermine readiness, put our nation’s warriors at risk, and leave taxpayers to pick up the check.”

If the Warrior Right to Repair Act becomes law, it could mark a significant step toward accountability, efficiency, and better support for America’s service members.