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The US Navy is pushing for the “right to repair” its own equipment, a move triggered in part by a frustrating incident aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most expensive aircraft carrier.
USS Gerald R. Ford’s Kitchen Nightmares Spark Reform
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Navy Secretary John Phelan highlighted the plight of the $13 billion USS Gerald R. Ford. The carrier, designed to serve 15,300 meals daily to its 4,500+ crew, was hobbled by malfunctioning ovens. Astonishingly, sailors were contractually forbidden from fixing them.
“I am a huge supporter of right to repair,” Phelan stated. “I went on the carrier; they had eight ovens… Only two were working. Six were out.” He emphasized that Navy personnel are capable of performing repairs but are often blocked by vendor contracts protecting intellectual property, leading to increased costs and delays.
Pentagon-Wide Push for Repair Independence
The Navy isn’t alone. The Army is also seeking greater control over equipment maintenance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the service to include “right to repair” clauses in future contracts. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll told the House Armed Services Committee, “On a go-forward basis, we have been directed to not sign any contracts that don’t give us a right to repair.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, currently under Congressional review, to empower military personnel to fix their own equipment.
Industry Reacts: A Win for Common Sense?
Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, a repair specialist firm, praised the Navy’s stance. “Our soldiers are immensely smart and capable and should not need to rely on a third-party contractor to maintain their equipment. Oven repair is not rocket science: of course sailors should be able to repair their ovens,” he told The Register.
Wiens added, “The Navy bought it, the Navy should be able to fix it… The military needs service documentation, detailed schematics, 3D models of parts so they can be manufactured in the field, and so on.”
Right to Repair Movement Gains Momentum
This military initiative mirrors the growing “right to repair” movement gaining traction across the United States, with several states enacting consumer protection laws. The change reflects a desire to move away from manufacturer-imposed limitations and towards greater ownership and sustainability.
Driscoll concluded, “We hope that anyone listening to us who hopes to pitch us a contract going forward will look back at their previous agreements they’ve signed with us, and if they’re unwilling to give us that right to repair, I think we’re going to have a hard time negotiating with them.”