Contract restrictions prevent Navy crews from fixing key ship systems like ovens and toilets, forcing reliance on costly contractors and sparking urgent calls for a military “right to repair” policy.
Five years ago, there were reports that the US Navy’s most expensive nuclear-powered aircraft carrier had a serious problem: its toilets clogged, impacting the crew’s ability to get the job done. The problem impacted USS Gerald R Ford, the lead vessel of the Navy’s newest class of flattops, as well as USS George HW Bush, the final Nimitz-class carrier. Unclogging each of the sewage systems via an acid flush cost upwards of $400,000, and now, more than half a decade later, it remains unclear if the problem has been fully resolved.
However, the USS Gerald R Ford may now have a serious problem, this time with its ability to feed the crew.
Six of the eight ovens on the supercarrier were reported to be out of action, but unlike the complex sewage system, sailors cannot attempt to resolve the issue.
The US Navy’s top civilian official warned that the oven makers retain “control of intellectual property,” meaning only licensed contractors are authorized to maintain the ovens. The contractors aren’t deployed with the warships, which limits when such maintenance work can be handled.
The Navy Faces Red Tape to Repair the Toilets
The core of the issue has plagued the civilian world for several decades. It famously affected the McDonald’s fast food chain’s milkshake machines, leading to the term “McBroken.” Reports show that it is technically “illegal” for one of the hamburger chain’s franchise locations to fix the machines.
Likewise, only in early 2023 did US farmers win the “right to repair” some of their John Deere equipment without voiding the license and warranty. The keyword in that case was “some,” as specific equipment is excluded. Even with what is allowed, the company still controls access to software.
The US Navy is now facing a similar issue with the ovens on its most advanced aircraft carrier. It challenges feeding the crew of over 4,500 sailors, Marines, and aviators onboard.
The Navy Petitions Washington to Repair the Toilets
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan told lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee this week that the US Navy needs to adopt a “right to repair” policy, and sailors should be trained to repair all systems on their vessels, including ovens.
“I am a huge supporter of ’right to repair,’” Phelan told the Senators after observing the issue firsthand.
“I went on the [USS Gerald R. Ford] carrier; they had eight ovens, this is a ship that serves 15,300 meals daily,” Phelan explained. “Only two were working. Six were out [for repair].”
The secretary added that it was surprising that no one was trained to repair the broken ovens, and even those who may have had the skills to handle the work are contractually barred from doing so.
The Problem with the Ovens on Navy Vessels
The ovens are just one of several systems that the system’s contractor must address. In a pinch, sailors and Marines can be supplied with MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat). A more significant issue may be the elevators, which affect the carrier’s operational capabilities.
Just like the ovens, a contractor has to be called in.
“They have to come out and diagnose the problem, and then they’ll fix it,” Plelan continued. “It is crazy. We should be able to fix this.”
The secretary stated that all intellectual property (IP) issues within military platforms are a growing problem.
“We end up paying for a lot of things that we don’t control, and we need to change that,” said Phelan.
“And, so, contracting, in general, is something we’re looking at very hard, and we need to try to ensure going forward we control our IP, and we can fix things because if we’re in a fight, how do we… fix it then?”
Contractors have strived to maintain greater control of their IP, arguing that it allows them to recoup the costs of developing the technology and have the option to market non-classified hardware on the commercial market.
On the flip side, contractors often lose patents and intellectual property (IP) to the government if specific systems are developed using government time and resources. That certainly wouldn’t be the case with the ovens, which are likely a variant already made for the commercial market.
A complex intersection may arise with the Pentagon’s initiatives to utilize commercial-off-the-shelf systems whenever possible. Something like ovens can be more cost-effective, but not if there isn’t a right-to-repair option in the mix.
The Army Might Help the Navy with Its Toilet Problem
The US Navy isn’t the only military branch dealing with this issue. As part of the ongoing transformation of the United States Army, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued guidance that includes a right to repair provision for warfighters in existing and future contracts.
“On a go-forward basis, we have been directed not to sign any contracts that don’t give us the right to repair,” US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said in testimony earlier this month before the House Armed Services Committee.
“On a go-back basis, we have been directed to go and do what we can to get that right to repair,” Driscoll added. “We hope that anyone listening to us who wishes 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.”
These calls have gotten rare bipartisan support.
Last year, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, which would allow military personnel to repair the equipment they use.
Repair experts said this is the right course of action.
“Our soldiers are brilliant and capable and should not rely on a third-party contractor to maintain their equipment. Oven repair is not rocket science: sailors should be able to repair their ovens,” Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair specialists iFixit, told The Register earlier this week.
“It’s gratifying to see Secretary Phelan echoing our work. The Navy bought it; the Navy should be able to fix it. Ownership is universal, and the same principles apply to an iPhone or a radar,” Wiens added.
“The devil is in the details: the military needs service documentation, detailed schematics, 3D models of parts so they can be manufactured in the field, and so on.”
However, the first step is having the right to repair.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins.
