Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would strengthen America’s military readiness and save taxpayers billions.

Washington, D.C. — Tonight, the House Armed Services Committee adopted a bipartisan amendment led by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) to strengthen the Department of Defense’s ability to repair and maintain its own equipment.

The amendment establishes a clear default framework for acquiring the technical data and repair rights needed to sustain military systems, helping improve readiness and reduce wasteful spending.

“I offered this amendment for a very straightforward reason: to vindicate a principle that is both common sense and deeply American — that our servicemembers should have the tools and the ability to fix and maintain the equipment they rely on to accomplish their missions,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “For decades, our military has been forced to operate under a broken system that makes even routine repairs unnecessarily difficult, threatens readiness, and costs taxpayers billions of dollars. This amendment cuts red tape, closes loopholes, and helps ensure our warfighters can do the jobs we’ve asked them to do.”

“Right to repair is in the final House version of the NDAA, and every service that asked us for it is going to get it,” said Congressman Harrigan. “When you are contemplating a protracted conflict in a far-off contested environment, where access to contractors may be limited and rapid organic maintenance is critical to mission success, this is a readiness requirement, not a nice to have. We owe this to the warfighters, we delivered, and I am proud to have fought for it alongside Congresswoman Goodlander.”

The amendment builds on longstanding concerns raised by military leaders across the services regarding restrictions that prevent the Department of Defense from repairing equipment it has already purchased. 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has testified that military right-to-repair policies would reduce reliance on contractors, lower maintenance costs, and lead to long-term cost savings. Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, has called current repair restrictions “not sustainable” and “dangerous,” while Air Force Chief of Staff General Kenneth Wilsbach has stated that “the ability to repair our own equipment is an important part of increasing readiness in many weapon systems.”

The military right to repair is supported by hundreds of small businesses across the country, which argue that expanding repair rights would increase competition, strengthen the defense industrial base, and keep our military mission-ready.

“This is about military readiness, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and empowering the men and women who serve our country,” Goodlander said. “Our military leaders have been remarkably clear: they need the ability to repair and maintain their own equipment. Congress should listen to them. Tonight’s vote is an important step forward, and I look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Harrigan and our colleagues in the Senate, Senator Warren and Senator Sheehy, to get this measure across the finish line.”

BACKGROUND: 

• Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander and Congressman Pat Harrigan co-led a bipartisan military right-to-repair amendment during today’s markup to address a longstanding military readiness challenge.

• Today, qualified servicemembers are often prevented from repairing mission-critical weapons systems and equipment because contractor-imposed restrictions require repairs to be performed by the original manufacturer. These limitations can delay maintenance, undermine readiness, and increase costs for taxpayers.

• The amendment will strengthen the Department of Defense’s ability to obtain the technical data and information needed to repair and maintain military equipment while establishing clearer requirements for contractors seeking more restrictive rights.

• Expanding military right to repair will improve readiness, increase competition within the defense industrial base, and save taxpayer dollars by reducing reliance on sole-source maintenance arrangements and costly contractor repair services.

• Senior Leaders across the Army, Navy and Air Force have all expressed support for strengthening the military’s ability to repair and maintain its own equipment, including in response to repeated oversight questions from Congresswoman Goodlander.

• Last year, Goodlander and Harrigan worked together to advance right-to-repair provisions during House Armed Services Committee consideration of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate Armed Services Committee also included significant right-to-repair language, but those provisions were ultimately not included in the final FY26 NDAA. The final law did include an important first step requiring the Department of Defense to develop and implement a digital system to track, manage, and assess technical data related to covered systems and verify contractor compliance with technical data requirements. The FY27 amendment builds on that progress by helping ensure the Department can obtain the information and rights necessary to sustain and maintain the equipment it purchases.

• Military leaders across the services have repeatedly warned that repair restrictions can increase costs, delay maintenance, and harm military readiness. In the Senate, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tim Sheehy are leading a bipartisan effort to advance similar right-to-repair provisions, reflecting growing bipartisan and bicameral support for reform.

• Goodlander, a former Navy Reserve intelligence officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee, has consistently pressed senior defense leaders on the need to strengthen military readiness, increase competition, reduce waste, and ensure servicemembers have the tools they need to maintain and repair the equipment they rely on to accomplish their missions.

The amendment was adopted by the House Armed Services Committee during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, marking a significant step forward in the effort to strengthen military right-to-repair protections.

Watch the full House Armed Services Committee debate on Congresswoman Goodlander’s bipartisan military right-to-repair amendment HERE.

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