1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

am writing to express deep concern over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s active affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) and its promotion of extremist, anti-democratic principles. The CREC’s core tenets directly undermine democratic values and constitutional protections:     •    Male-only leadership and household voting deny women and some adults a voice in decision-making, contrary to the principle of equal representation.     •    Opposition to women’s suffrage by key leaders rejects the 19th Amendment and the right of women to vote.     •    Sphere sovereignty and theocratic leanings seek to place religious authority above secular government, eroding the separation of church and state.     •    Christian Reconstructionist dominionism calls for reshaping laws and institutions to reflect a single religious worldview, limiting pluralism and religious freedom.     •    Institutional control over education and media fosters an echo chamber that discourages exposure to diverse perspectives necessary for a healthy democracy. A public official who openly supports and legitimizes these views poses a serious threat to the democratic framework they have sworn to uphold. I urge you to:     1.    Publicly denounce the promotion of these extremist, anti-democratic ideologies by any federal official.     2.    Initiate oversight hearings to examine how these beliefs may influence Defense Department policy and operations.     3.    Take all available steps to ensure that leadership in our government remains committed to the Constitution and democratic values for all Americans. The preservation of our democratic system requires vigilance. Please act decisively to hold Secretary Hegseth accountable.