1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Last week, The Washington Post reported that Pete Hegseth personally ordered U.S. forces to “kill everybody” on a small wooden boat off the coast of Trinidad on September 2. Armed states do not execute helpless people in the water. And yet somehow, this is now U.S. policy. The boat strike on September 2 was not a one–off. The Post reports that since that first attack, Trump and Hegseth have ordered more than 20 similar missile strikes on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 80 people. This unlawful targeting of non-combatant civilians is leading to confusion and fear of liability in the military. The Hill reports that a free legal advice service for military personnel has seen a dramatic increase in calls since September, when the boat strikes began. At least two members of the military who believed they could be involved in the strikes have called the service, with at least one saying that he received significant pressure from others to agree that the strikes were legal. If this reporting is accurate, there appears to be a systemic breakdown among senior commanders who are bending to political pressure—and applying political pressure to subordinates to violate the UCMJ and the law of war. Recently, Senators Kelly and Slotkin and Reps. Crow, Houlahan, Deluzio, and Goodlander made a statement reminding our military members of the law and of their duty to follow it. We need more members of Congress speaking up, urging members of the military to follow the law. Have you made a statement clarifying the law for those currently serving and encouraging them to follow it? If not, please do so immediately.