diff --git a/models/programs.js b/models/programs.js
index 54b37679..a396cad7 100644
--- a/models/programs.js
+++ b/models/programs.js
@@ -49,12 +49,10 @@ const programSchema = new Schema({
 	startDate: {
 		type: Date,
 		index: true,
-		required: true,
 	},
 	endDate: {
 		type: Date,
 		index: true,
-		required: true,
 	},
 	translations: Object,
 	source: {
@@ -73,10 +71,16 @@ const programSchema = new Schema({
 	},
 })
 
+const normalizeDate = (date) => (date ? new Date(date) : date)
+
 // pre hook invoked before creating a document
 programSchema.pre('validate', function (next) {
-	if (this.startDate && this.endDate && this.startDate >= this.endDate) {
-		return next(new Error('startDate must be less than endDate'))
+	if (this.startDate && this.endDate) {
+		const startDate = normalizeDate(this.startDate)
+		const endDate = normalizeDate(this.endDate)
+		if (startDate >= endDate) {
+			return next(new Error('startDate must be less than endDate'))
+		}
 	}
 	next()
 })
@@ -86,8 +90,8 @@ programSchema.pre(['findOneAndUpdate', 'updateOne'], async function (next) {
 	const update = this.getUpdate()
 	const set = update.$set || {}
 
-	const startDate = set.startDate ?? update.startDate
-	const endDate = set.endDate ?? update.endDate
+	const startDate = normalizeDate(set.startDate ?? update.startDate)
+	const endDate = normalizeDate(set.endDate ?? update.endDate)
 
 	// If both provided in update, validate directly
 	if (startDate && endDate && new Date(startDate) >= new Date(endDate)) {
diff --git a/models/solutions.js b/models/solutions.js
index d5567efc..865b2d04 100644
--- a/models/solutions.js
+++ b/models/solutions.js
@@ -35,12 +35,10 @@ const solutionSchema = new Schema({
 	startDate: {
 		type: Date,
 		index: true,
-		required: true,
 	},
 	endDate: {
 		type: Date,
 		index: true,
-		required: true,
 	},
 	status: String,
 	evidenceMethods: Object,
@@ -126,10 +124,16 @@ const solutionSchema = new Schema({
 	},
 })
 
+const normalizeDate = (date) => (date ? new Date(date) : date)
+
 // pre hook invoked before creating a document
 solutionSchema.pre('validate', function (next) {
-	if (this.startDate && this.endDate && this.startDate >= this.endDate) {
-		return next(new Error('startDate must be less than endDate'))
+	if (this.startDate && this.endDate) {
+		const startDate = normalizeDate(this.startDate)
+		const endDate = normalizeDate(this.endDate)
+		if (startDate >= endDate) {
+			return next(new Error('startDate must be less than endDate'))
+		}
 	}
 	next()
 })
@@ -139,8 +143,8 @@ solutionSchema.pre(['findOneAndUpdate', 'updateOne'], async function (next) {
 	const update = this.getUpdate()
 	const set = update.$set || {}
 
-	const startDate = set.startDate ?? update.startDate
-	const endDate = set.endDate ?? update.endDate
+	const startDate = normalizeDate(set.startDate ?? update.startDate)
+	const endDate = normalizeDate(set.endDate ?? update.endDate)
 
 	// If both provided in update, validate directly
 	if (startDate && endDate && new Date(startDate) >= new Date(endDate)) {