1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Demand Oversight: Stop Silicon Valley’s Unauthorized Military Takeover I am writing to demand immediate congressional oversight and public hearings on the creation of “Detachment 201,” a newly commissioned Army Reserve unit made up of Silicon Valley executives from Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI—granted the rank of lieutenant colonel without public consent or Senate confirmation. These individuals—including Shyam Sankar (Palantir), Andrew Bosworth (Meta), and Kevin Weil and Bob McGrew (OpenAI)—were sworn in behind closed doors and are now being given influence over Army policy, talent management, and technology integration under the guise of innovation. This move was announced only after the fact, and the American public deserves to know: • Who approved this? • What legal authority justifies these commissions? • How are conflicts of interest being handled if these men still work for private companies with active DoD contracts? This is not military modernization—it is privatized militarization. This sets a dangerous precedent where billionaires from companies that profit off surveillance, algorithmic control, and AI manipulation are given uniformed military authority without undergoing military training, security vetting, or congressional review. This isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a national security issue and a democratic crisis. Palantir has a long track record of civil liberties violations. Meta is under global scrutiny for data exploitation and election interference. OpenAI’s tools, including large language models, are already shaping political and social narratives. These companies should not have direct military influence, let alone wear the uniform of the U.S. Army while still on private payrolls. The public was not informed. Congress was not consulted. This violates the principle of civilian oversight and makes a mockery of those who serve honorably through traditional channels. I urge you to: 1. Launch immediate hearings on Detachment 201 and related direct commissioning practices. 2. Introduce legislation to prohibit corporate executives from receiving military rank while actively employed by contractors or tech firms with potential conflicts of interest. 3. Investigate the Trump administration’s coordination with venture capital–backed defense startups like Anduril and Palantir as part of a larger power grab. We cannot allow this kind of elite, undemocratic control to take root in our armed forces under the radar. This is how authoritarian systems are built—through privatized pipelines, secrecy, and manufactured urgency. Democracy requires sunlight. Bring this out of the shadows.