1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose President Trump's proposed military parade in Washington D.C. and instead reallocate the estimated $92 million cost towards more pressing needs for our troops and veterans. A gratuitous display of military hardware and personnel through the streets of our nation's capital serves no practical purpose. It is an unpopular idea among military leaders who rightly view it as an unnecessary show of force reminiscent of the authoritarian regimes we have historically opposed. At a time when the administration is seeking to drastically cut funding for diplomacy and development assistance that helps prevent conflict, wasting $92 million on a parade celebrating military might sends absolutely the wrong message to our allies and adversaries alike. That money could be far better utilized to support overdue pay raises for troops, improve military readiness, strengthen support for veterans' health care and other services, or rebuild crumbling infrastructure on military bases across the country. As your constituent, I encourage you to push back forcefully against this ill-conceived proposal that would divert critical resources away from genuine defense priorities toward propping up the president's ego. Our military deserves steady, principled leadership and robust funding - not this costly and insecure political stunt disguised as patriotism. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.