1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep anger and disappointment over your recent vote to confirm John Dan Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Your decision to support this nomination flies in the face of clear legal requirements and raises serious concerns about your commitment to the rule of law and the integrity of our armed forces. As you are undoubtedly aware, 10 U.S. Code § 152(a)(4)(C) states that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must be an officer who has served as a member of the Joint Chiefs or in a position designated by the President as having duties and responsibilities equivalent to such a role. There has been no public indication—and certainly no formal designation by the President or Congress—that Lt. Gen. Caine has held such a qualifying position. By voting to confirm a nominee who does not meet this statutory requirement, you have not only disregarded the law, but also undermined the credibility of the office and the process by which we entrust individuals with supreme military authority. This is not a symbolic post; the Chairman is the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. The legal standards in place are not arbitrary—they exist to ensure experience, accountability, and proper civilian oversight of the military. Your constituents deserve better. We deserve a Senator who upholds both the spirit and the letter of the law, not one who casts aside qualifications when it suits political expedience. I urge you to publicly explain your rationale for this vote and how it squares with the statutory requirements you swore an oath to uphold. Please know that I—and many others—will be watching closely and holding you accountable for future votes and actions. Trust in our democratic institutions is fragile, and decisions like this erode that trust even further.