1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to you as an active duty service member regarding the recent Executive Order titled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens” issued in April 2025. While I support efforts to enhance public safety, I am deeply troubled by Section 4 of this order, which mandates the reallocation of military assets away from national security priorities to support domestic law enforcement activities. Even more alarming is the directive to explore the use of military personnel in law enforcement roles. This policy shift raises grave legal and constitutional concerns. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 explicitly prohibits the use of the U.S. Army and Air Force to execute domestic laws except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. This longstanding law is a critical safeguard that preserves the separation between military and civilian authority, protecting citizens from the militarization of law enforcement and potential abuses of power. By directing military resources and personnel toward domestic policing, the executive order undermines these protections and risks eroding public trust in both our armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The military’s primary mission is to defend the nation against external threats, not to act as an internal police force. Diverting military assets from national defense priorities could weaken our security posture and compromise our ability to respond to genuine threats. Moreover, the prospect of military involvement in civilian law enforcement raises serious concerns about civil liberties and the potential for excessive use of force. Military training and tactics are designed for combat, not community policing. Introducing soldiers into civilian law enforcement roles threatens to blur lines that have been carefully maintained for nearly 150 years to protect democratic governance and individual rights. I urge Congress to take immediate action to reaffirm the principles enshrined in the Posse Comitatus Act and to ensure that any measures to support law enforcement do not come at the expense of our constitutional protections or national security. It is imperative that the military remains focused on its core mission and that civilian law enforcement agencies receive the support and resources they need through appropriate, lawful channels. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I trust you will uphold the rule of law and protect the foundational principles that safeguard our democracy.