Trickle-Down Defense: The cost of the Defense Bill on our troops.

I am writing to urge you to reject the misleading narratives surrounding the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and the Trump-backed reconciliation package, often referred to as the “One Budget for a Better Border” (OBBB). These bills are being sold to the public as historic investments in national security and military personnel. In truth, they represent a redistribution of resources away from the very service members who shoulder the greatest burden—our junior enlisted, reservists, and military families living paycheck to paycheck. Yes, the bill includes a 3.8% pay raise. But for the majority of service members—especially those in the lower tax brackets—this raise is offset, and in many cases erased, by deep cuts to:     •    SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and other food and health assistance programs     •    Affordable childcare and spouse employment programs     •    On-base family services and mental health resources     •    Education benefits and access to student debt relief     •    Refundable tax credits that disproportionately benefit low-income families When all these impacts are calculated, most lower-income service members will see a net financial loss. Meanwhile, high-ranking officers and military contractors stand to gain, as does the private defense sector. This isn’t support for our troops—it’s austerity for our working-class military. I am asking you, as my elected representatives, to take a stand for all who serve this country, not just those at the top. Specifically:     •    Reject legislation that cuts critical social supports for military families     •    Demand transparency in the fiscal and social impacts of defense spending     •    Introduce or support corrective measures that restore essential benefits     •    Prioritize quality of life and long-term security for enlisted families over contractor profits True patriotism means standing by our service members not just in war zones, but when they’re raising families, seeking healthcare, or struggling to put food on the table. Please do not let a hollow pay raise become a cover for dismantling the basic supports that make service life survivable for hundreds of thousands of Americans.