Prevent the Executive from abusing our military and your authorities

Rep. Wittman, As my representative in Congress and as Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, I am dismayed by your silence on three matters of vital importance to our military and country. First, the deployment of US military personnel against lawful protests in cities across the United States, including those planned for the Washington DC suburbs, likely Northern Virginia and perhaps even Richmond. The President has usurped state governments by federalizing state National Guards, and damaged the work of those state’s elected leadership to successfully managing lawful protests. Further, the President’s deployment of US Marines into some of these cities is a breach of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act. This use of US armed services is an abuse of his authorities, as a federal court acknowledged this week. As Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, you know these facts to be true. Why have you failed to speak up and take appropriate action to shut down these excesses? Second, the recent speech at Fort Bragg. The US military should be strictly non-partisan, in the tradition founded by George Washington. This display of US Army personnel cheering partisan messages, lies, and misinformation was disgraceful and illegal. It sullies both the US military and the country. The violations of the Hatch Act are obvious. As Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, you have again said nothing. Why? Your role and committee should demand explanations for why US military personnel and resources were used in this way, and investigate the breaches of the law. You betray our country’s history if you stay silent on this matter. Third, the President’s declaration that the country is being invaded by migrant groups, as a pretext for usurping power from Congress. This declaration is patently, unequivocally false, and yet another attempt by the Executive to steal the power of the Legislature - your power, and that of your colleagues in Congress. Are you truly so weak, so cowed, so beholden to President Trump that you will stay silent as a willing collaborator with his illegal maneuvers to centralize all power upon himself? Your are failing in your job, Rep. Wittman. Challengers are arising for your seat in 2026. Perhaps you are betting that it won’t matter, that the elections will be declared void under the power of the unified Executive, that you will remain in your seat precisely because you are collaborating with the Executive now. I urge you to not be so foolish. Look at the history of the United States. Those who collaborate with groups attempting to enforce authoritarian powers do not fare well in the long term. You were elected by the people of Virginia’s First District, and you represent us. You have the chance to be an American hero. We will not forget how you choose to operate today. You owe it to the country you profess to love to stand up, now, and do the job you were elected to do.