1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support S. 2198, the Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act, introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth. This legislation addresses the dangerous escalation of military deployments into American communities for civilian law enforcement purposes. Since taking office, President Trump has systematically redirected military priorities toward domestic policing. His April executive order directed the Department of Defense to use national security assets for law and order. One example is the deployment of 700 Marines to Los Angeles, a situation Trump himself described as "simmering, but not very much." This raises a critical question: why are Marines being pulled from their families and core mission to address a situation the President characterizes as minimal? These deployments divert taxpayer dollars and military focus away from defending against actual foreign threats. They undermine national security by treating American citizens as adversaries rather than the people our military is sworn to protect. They also risk eroding public trust in the Armed Forces by politicizing an institution that must remain mission-focused and nonpartisan. S. 2198 provides reasonable safeguards while preserving military support for genuine emergencies. The bill restricts indirect military support to specific circumstances like natural disasters, public health emergencies, and terrorist incidents. It requires Congressional approval for any deployment exceeding 14 days. It prohibits dual-hat roles where individuals simultaneously hold Defense Department and law enforcement positions. It also strengthens identification requirements so servicemembers supporting civil authorities must visibly display their name and organization. S. 2198 would prevent future administrations from blurring the line between military and law enforcement. I urge you to cosponsor and vote for this critical legislation to protect both our military's mission and our democratic principles.