1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to you not as a partisan, but as a United States veteran who is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the legitimacy of our federal government and deeply concerned about the direction this country is taking under the current administration. I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and that oath does not expire when one leaves uniform. It is precisely because of that commitment that I feel compelled to say this plainly: trust in our institutions is eroding at an alarming rate, and it is doing so because the government is increasingly asking the public to deny what they can plainly see with their own eyes. Transparency is no longer optional. Accountability is no longer a talking point. They are prerequisites for legitimacy. When official statements contradict video evidence, witness accounts, or basic facts, and when investigations appear insulated from independent scrutiny, the damage to public trust is immediate and profound. Platitudes, press conferences, and carefully worded statements are no longer sufficient. What we need now are visible, concrete actions. We need to see meaningful oversight exercised. We need to see consequences when federal power is abused. We need to see our elected officials assert their constitutional authority to check an executive branch that is increasingly behaving as though it is beyond accountability. Drawing lines in the sand without enforcing them only accelerates disillusionment. I want to be clear: I am not asking for rhetoric. I am asking what you are actually going to do. What actions will you take to demand transparency. What mechanisms will you use to ensure accountability. What steps will you take to protect the rights and dignity of U.S. citizens when federal agencies act in ways that appear reckless, dishonest, or authoritarian. As a veteran, it is deeply unsettling to reach a point where I struggle to believe that we have a fully functional, good-faith government. That struggle is not rooted in cynicism. It is rooted in watching institutions fail basic tests of honesty and responsibility in real time. The legitimacy of government depends on consent, and consent depends on trust. That trust is being damaged rapidly. I urge you to act with the seriousness this moment demands. Not tomorrow. Not after the next news cycle. Now. I expect leadership that reflects the gravity of this crisis, and I expect to see results.