1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am a constituent living in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, which you currently represent in the United States House of Representatives. I am writing to state my absolute opposition to any effort to bring back forced conscription in this country—whether it is called a “draft,” “universal national service,” or any other euphemism.[wikipedia +2] Right now, the federal government is moving toward automatic draft registration for nearly all draft‑eligible men by December 2026, implemented through the Selective Service System as part of recent defense authorization and appropriations measures. At the same time, powerful defense and surveillance contractors like Palantir are openly calling for the return of the draft and for “national service” to become a universal mandatory duty. These two developments together look less like coincidence and more like a coordinated attempt to make it easier to funnel young people—including those from Western North Carolina—into wars and systems that enrich a small number of already wealthy men.[cnbc +6] Palantir’s recent manifesto explicitly urges the United States to re‑establish mandatory national service and move away from an all‑volunteer military, dressing this up as “shared duty” and “shared risk.” Coming from a multibillion‑dollar surveillance and defense company that profits directly from military contracts, this language is cynical and disturbing. This is not about civic virtue; it is about guaranteeing a steady supply of human bodies for wars and for the security state those companies help build.[newsweek +2] Meanwhile, the Trump administration has refused to definitively take the draft “off the table” while expanding automatic draft‑pool enrollment and signaling a willingness to escalate conflicts, including in the Middle East, even as officials insist there are “no current plans” for conscription. In practice, that leaves the door wide open—and voters in Western North Carolina see that clearly.[newsweek +3] Let me be clear about what I, as your constituent, reject: • I do not consent to my children, my neighbors, or the youth of NC‑11 being forced to fight and die in wars that are illegal, immoral, or unnecessary—wars driven by geopolitical ego, corporate lobbying, and the profit motives of contractors and arms manufacturers. • I do not accept a system where wealthy and politically connected men—many of whom avoided service themselves—sit safely behind desks in Washington or in corporate boardrooms while ordinary young people from places like Asheville, Hendersonville, and our surrounding counties are compelled to risk death, disability, or lifelong trauma. • I absolutely reject any framing of “universal duty” that means drafting ordinary Americans, while billionaires, war profiteers, and the political class continue to avoid the true costs of the policies they choose. If politicians and corporate executives believe a war is so necessary, they and their own families can volunteer to be the first ones on the front lines. They can trade their safe positions, donors’ galas, and corporate retreats for trenches and combat tours before they dare to demand that the young people of Western North Carolina be conscripted. As your constituent in North Carolina’s 11th District, I am asking you to do the following: 1. Publicly and unequivocally oppose any reinstatement of a military draft or any compulsory “national service” program that could serve as a back door to conscription. 2. Support legislation to repeal automatic draft registration and reinforce protections against forced military service.[cnn +3] 3. Refuse campaign contributions and influence from defense contractors, surveillance companies, and “Big Tech” firms like Palantir that are actively advocating for conscription or broader war powers.[fortune +3] 4. Use your position in Congress to demand transparent oversight over the Selective Service System, including any proposed changes that expand its role, its databases, or its activation readiness.[military +3] Western North Carolina already struggles with economic precarity, lack of affordable housing, and the impacts of climate and public‑health crises. The young people in this district should be able to build stable, healthy lives here, not be treated as expendable assets for endless wars and corporate profit.[datausa] I am watching very closely to see how you respond to this moment. Your actions and votes on the draft, on automatic registration, and on corporate calls for “universal national service” will determine how I support or oppose you in future elections, and how I talk about your record to my family, neighbors, and online community. I am requesting a clear, written response stating your position on: • Reinstating any form of draft or compulsory national service. • Automatic draft registration for draft‑eligible men and any plans to expand it. • The role of defense contractors and tech companies like Palantir in pushing for conscription. The people of North Carolina’s 11th District deserve to know whether you stand with us—or with the corporations and political elites who want to sacrifice our youth for their wars.