20 years of contractor shakedown over a $6 knob that prints in one hour. Black Hawk grounded four times a month, taxpayers cough up $40,000 every fix.

Contractor blocks parts and IP rights, forces full system replacement scam.
Right to repair dies unless NDAA rams it through this year.

For 20 years, a $6 knob that takes one hour to 3D print has been grounding Black Hawk helicopters four times a month, and the contractor responsible won't sell us the part or the IP rights to fix it ourselves.

So instead, American taxpayers have been paying $40,000 every single… pic.twitter.com/nh1cDNDpwF

— Congressman Pat Harrigan (@RepPatHarrigan) May 15, 2026