1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing with deep concern about the direction outlined in the Trump Administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS). While every administration revises U.S. strategy, this NSS represents a major break from decades of bipartisan doctrine and raises serious questions about America’s alliances, global stability, and long-term security. For generations, U.S. national security has depended on strong democratic alliances, deterrence against authoritarian aggression, and a rules-based international order. The new NSS shifts sharply away from that framework. It reduces the role of NATO, downplays U.S. commitments in Europe, and reorients strategy around domestic industrial priorities and narrowly defined national interest. Former officials from both parties have warned that weakening alliances undermines deterrence against Russia and China. The NSS also proposes a sweeping restructuring of the defense-industrial base. Strengthening domestic production is important, but experts caution that the scale and pace of these changes could disrupt joint operations, strain interoperability with allies, and create vulnerabilities during transition. Another concern is the increasingly transactional approach to alliances. The NSS places far less emphasis on shared democratic values, prompting public statements of concern from European partners about the reliability of U.S. commitments. When allies hesitate to coordinate or share intelligence, the United States is less secure. Adversarial states have noted these shifts as well. Russian officials have publicly highlighted the reduced emphasis on Ukraine and U.S. global engagement as strategically advantageous to Moscow. When geopolitical competitors welcome changes to American strategy, Congress has a responsibility to scrutinize those changes closely. The NSS also intersects with domestic actions that merit oversight, particularly the expanded use of federal authority in immigration enforcement and militarized operations. National-security experts warn that blurring foreign and domestic roles can erode civil liberties, strain federal resources, and undermine public trust. Taken together, these developments amount to more than a policy difference. They represent a fundamental redefinition of America’s role in the world and our commitment to democratic partnerships that have safeguarded U.S. security for decades. Congress must provide rigorous oversight to ensure that strategic shifts strengthen — rather than weaken — the nation. For these reasons, I urge you to hold public hearings on the 2025 NSS, require transparent briefings from defense and intelligence officials, and ensure that any strategic reorientation reinforces U.S. security and democratic values.