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

I write to you as your constituent and someone who has dedicated their life to protecting this nation, often at great personal risk. Today, I ask for something simple but deeply important: your compassion and moral leadership. I, as many have, based their entire loves and their families lives in service of the government and it is a disgrace that the government they’ve served seeks to change the agreement now. This job is not that of one sitting at a desk working “bankers hours”. My colleagues and I work 50 hours at a minimum to investigate and enforce the rule of law. It’s hard on the mind, body and soul. I’ve spent weeks, months and cumulatively years away from home and away from my family in order to do my job and complete the agency mission. And this is how we’re being recognized? By inferring that we’ve not been working since COVID and now you seek to further dilute our federal benefits - benefits that we sweat and bled for? The elimination of the annuity supplement for law enforcement is a travesty.   Each day, federal law enforcement officers leave their families to confront danger most Americans are fortunate never to face. We stand as the last line of defense against terrorism, human trafficking, child exploitation, drug cartels, and violent crime. We do this work quietly, diligently, and with an unwavering sense of duty—not for accolades, but because we believe in serving and protecting others.   We serve despite being stretched thin, working long hours in dangerous environments, and watch our pay and benefits fall behind those of our peers in local and state law enforcement. We’ve continued to show up, even as our resources have dwindled, and our sacrifices go largely unnoticed.   Now, there are proposals under consideration that would ask us to give even more—by cutting into the very benefits we’ve earned through decades of sacrifice. Raising retirement contributions, eliminating the annuity supplement, or reducing pension calculations may seem like numbers on a page. But for us, they represent broken promises, futures in doubt, and a message that our service is expendable.   We are only asking for fairness, for recognition of the extraordinary risks we take and the lives we’ve led in the service of others. These proposed cuts would harm not only our livelihoods but the very system of honor and trust that binds law enforcement officers to their oath.   You must stand up for what is right. Those who serve and sacrifice for our nation deserve to be treated with dignity and respect—not as expendable budget lines. These decisions are not just fiscal—they are moral. They reflect who we are as a nation and what we value in those who protect it.   During budget reconciliation, we urge you to oppose any measures that would in any way erode the pay/retirement benefits of federal law enforcement. To do otherwise would hurt recruitment, retention and undermine the spirit of those of us who have already given so much.