1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to express my firm opposition to the administration's proposal to fund $350 billion of the $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense request through the budget reconciliation process. This is not a disagreement over tactics; it is a direct assault on the Power of the Purse granted to Congress under Article I of the Constitution. The recent testimony of Secretary Pete Hegseth confirms a pattern of institutional hostility toward the rule of law. Utilizing reconciliation for defense spending is a transparent procedural maneuver designed to bypass the 60-vote advice and consent threshold and shield this historic request from the rigorous public debate that Regular Order requires. My demand for accountability is based on the following structural failures: - Abdication of Article I Oversight: Bypassing Regular Order for $350 billion in military funding—including AI investments and munitions—prevents a cost-benefit analysis and leaves the American people in the dark regarding the true scale of our national commitments. - Zero Fiscal Accountability: The conflict in Iran has already cost an estimated $29 billion. Folding more billions into a reconciliation package ensures this spending remains un-vetted and unchecked by the people's representatives. Evasion of War Powers: With the May 1 legal deadline for the conflict in Iran having passed, any continued military engagement without a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) is a violation of the War Powers Resolution. Labeling congressional oversight as "adversarial" is an unacceptable challenge to the separation of powers. I urge you to fulfill your constitutional duty by demanding that all defense spending be subject to Regular Order and a full, bipartisan debate. I will be monitoring your actions on this issue as a primary indicator of your commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.