The US Army has embraced a major change, mandating that right-to-repair provisions be a part of all new contracts.

Right-to-repair has been gaining traction across the tech industry, with jurisdictions and some companies supporting the movement. Senator Elizabeth Warren has been a major proponent of right-to-repair, pushing Secretary of the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll to adopt a right-to-repair stance.

“I pushed the Army Secretary to get right-to-repair in the Army done, and I’m glad he kept his word,” said Senator Warren. “This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months and months to get the equipment they need repaired. It’d be a big win for our country if all of the services followed Secretary Driscoll’s lead to stand up to military contractors, side with warfighters, and commit to right-to-repair in every single contract.”

Senator Warren brought up the issue at Driscoll’s confirmation hearing, tying right-to-repair to national security and the military’s readiness.

Senator Warren: Good. You know, when right-to-repair restrictions are in place, it’s bigger profits for giant defense contractors, but also higher prices for DoD and longer wait times for service members who need to get equipment repaired so they’re ready to go.

Chairman Wicker has an acquisition reform agenda which calls for a complete review of data rights across the Department of Defense. I think that is exactly right because it would help put the Army fully in command of the equipment that it has paid so much for.

So, Mr. Driscoll, let me ask you, if confirmed, will you work with this committee to identify more opportunities where the Army can save money and time by making their own parts and fixing their own equipment?

Mr. Driscoll: If confirmed, unequivocally, Senator.

Senator Warren: Would you like to expand on that at all?

Mr. Driscoll: This type of innovation happening in the private sector at scale in a lot of ways seems to have not trickled into the Army as much. If we think about engagement with a peer like China, being able to repair our parts in areas around the world will be crucial to that. And, if we are having six-month delays in CONUS and paying 100x the rate, that is not scalable in an actual conflict, and so I’m totally supportive, Senator.

Senator Warren has likewise called on the Secretary of the Navy and the Military Transportation Command Chief to embrace right-to-repair.

It’s a safe bet that the military requiring right-to-repair clauses will add momentum to efforts to make it the standard in the consumer space as well.