Senator Elizabeth Warren challenges defense industry contractors over Right To Repair

[thewayne]

It's really simple. There are many defense systems that the military own - flat-out own - that they are not allowed to repair! They have to wait for parts, or DRM unlocks by defense contractor specialists, before repairs can be effected. As a result, units needing repair are sometimes cannibalized to keep other units in fighting condition.

Which is an absolutely insane situation for any military to be under. Yet, because of DRM and other contractual limitations that defense contractors have been allowed to restrict the Pentagon with, it's reality. The article states the example of a knob - a simple knob - for a "Black Hawk helicopter screen control knob that costs $47,000 as part of a full assembly could be manufactured independently for just $15." This is just one example of the insanity that the military has to deal with because of contractual and DRM lockdown and lock-in. The military's personnel are trained to maintain the equipment, they have the tools and 3D printers to print things. But they are not allowed to.

Senator Warren (D) is on the committee that is currently preparing the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-challenges-defense-industry-right-to-repair-opposition-funding-talks-2025-11-10/

https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/11/11/1917226/us-senator-challenges-defense-industry-on-right-to-repair-opposition

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

My suspicion is if they win anything, they will exempt only the military.

But the whole thing is stupid -- the government could just create manufacturers to handle the military equipment and not have to worry about outsiders at all.

[warriorsavant]

So subscription model effects the military also. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. All of us spend massive amounts of more time and effort on digital stuff that's supposed to help us; in some cases to the point of being counter-productive.

During Gulf War, when floppy disks were still a thing, we were supposed to be sent from point A to B to C (or somesuch, don't recall now). However, due to the heat, the computer wasn't working at point B, so we ended up twiddling our thumbs at point B, until they could get it working.

How did we manage to win WWII without computers?

[thewayne]

What's even more amazing is going to the moon on slide rules and the primitive computers we had back then! We won WW II on slide rules and pre-computed ballistic tables, calculated with slide rules.

When I had a temp job at the local Air Force base with a group replacing all the old computers with new Windows 10 laptops, everyone in the group was experienced with computers and most had experience in programming. NONE OF THEM KNEW WHAT A SLIDE RULE WAS. I could have wept.

[warriorsavant]

I actually do (did) know how to use a slide rule, but never used one for practical use. Desktop calculators were the hot new tech - major leap forward when they became pocket calculators.

Actually, the earliest computers did exist in WWII and were used to compute ballistic tables. (Admiral) Grace Hopper go her start by learning how to use a “computing engine” to do that.

[dewline]

Horrific.

Sen. Warren is, of course, on the right track in resisting this DRM madness.

[thewayne]

Absolutely!

[disneydream06]

They own things that they are not allowed to repair?
That is a massive WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Jon

[thewayne]

It's all over the place, Jon. I've spoken about Right To Repair many, many times. Your car - you cannot change the transmission fluid (which I know you're not inclined to do so) without a special computer. And certain model Kias - you can't even do a brake job without a $2,000+ computer PLUS a special certification.

It used to be that brake jobs were the last holdout of things that shady tree mechanics could do on their own. Not if you own a Kia!

[disneydream06]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kathmandu]

I knew about Right to Repair in general, and the issues with cars and tractors and such.

But I'm shocked that anyone has been able to get away with inflicting that on the US military. This should have been treated as a national security issue.

[thewayne]

Absolutely agree.  But if there's one thing that government contractors are good at, it's sponging money and exploiting contracts.

[devilc]

You would think they'd write write to repair into the f'ing contract.

"We can't repair it? The person who will let us fix it gets the contract."

[thewayne]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the contractors are writing the contracts.

[halfshellvenus]

Well, that sounds like a lawsuit that is long overdue. Our military budget is ridiculously high, and yet so little of it is actually allocated for paying military personnel or caring for veterans. Disgraceful.

This made me think of a conversation I had around the coffee station at work years ago, about hating things that had "no user-serviceable parts." One of the electrical engineers admitted to me that he had made his own triangular tool to FIT one of those unserviceable parts.

And a few years back, my son showed me some online kits you can buy that have tools built for those kinds of parts. Because it's mostly electronics, and there's no reason to prevent servicing if users are willing to have the products no longer work. They'd be no worse off than they were already!

[thewayne]

I've purchased numerous parts and tools from iFixit to keep old gear going.  They also have repair videos and step-by-step guides to help you fix your own computers, phones, tablets, etc.

I remember one particular Mac laptop that I repaired that I had to buy a three-prong screwdriver! The only laptop I used it on, likely the only time that I'll ever use it. But it saved me probably $50-100 on replacing the battery myself.

[silveradept]

Yet another way that the military-industrial complex does what it's supposed to - funnel money away from the people and into the pockets of corporations. I should like to see the Senator broaden her target so that everyone gets right to repair once she can get it for the people with boom shooty things.