1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern regarding the apparent influence of Laura Loomer on national security decision-making within the White House. Recent reporting and publicly available information raise troubling questions about the role of unelected individuals in shaping critical foreign policy decisions. It has been documented that Loomer, despite holding no official government position, has had direct access to the President and has contributed to the removal of National Security Council personnel. At the same time, President Donald Trump has stated that Iran’s retaliation against regional allies came as a surprise. However, credible reporting indicates that intelligence assessments and experts had warned in advance that such retaliation was a likely outcome of military escalation, especially Nate Swanson who was fired at Loomer’s urging. This contradiction raises a critical issue: whether experienced national security professionals were sidelined or removed in favor of politically aligned voices lacking formal accountability or expertise. The reported influence of Loomer, who is widely described as a political activist rather than a policy professional, undermines confidence in the integrity of national security decision-making. The stakes of foreign policy, especially involving potential regional war, demand rigorous analysis, institutional expertise, and structured debate. Allowing informal actors to exert outsized influence over personnel decisions or policy direction risks weakening these essential safeguards. Therefore, I respectfully call for a clear and enforceable boundary preventing unelected private individuals from influencing national security staffing and policy decisions. Also transparency regarding the processes used to hire, retain, or dismiss National Security Council personnel. As well we need reaffirmation that foreign policy decisions will be guided by qualified experts within established governmental frameworks, not outside political actors. The American public deserves confidence that decisions of war, peace, and international stability are made through disciplined, accountable, and expert-driven processes.