'Right to repair' bill could free contractors' grip on military

A bipartisan amendment to the annual military policy bill gives the U.S. Defense Department broader authority to repair its own equipment, addressing the Pentagon's $2.3 billion annual maintenance spending on ground vehicles alone, after lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pat Harrigan pushed back against defense contractor restrictions that charged $47,000 for $15 repairs.

The amendment has been adopted by the House Armed Services Committee; the full bill must still pass both chambers.