1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I reject Russ Vought's vision of a Christian nationalist state that undermines democratic norms and institutions. His brand of religious fundamentalism, cloaked in a veneer of bureaucratic expertise, poses a grave threat to America's pluralistic values and system of checks and balances. Vought seeks to destroy the "deep state" of career civil servants upholding the rule of law, substituting loyalty to an authoritarian leader in place of fealty to the Constitution. His calm demeanor belies an extremist agenda that would erode civil liberties and equal rights in service of a narrow, regressive ideology. America's strength lies in its founding ideals of religious freedom, equal protection under the law, and freedom of conscience - principles Vought's crusade would upend. I urge a course correction away from this disturbing path towards Christian nationalism and demolition of democratic safeguards. Protecting pluralism and the impartial machinery of governance must take precedence over any one faction's desire to consolidate power.