Reject Anonymous Pentagon Donation: Protect Military Independence

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent $130 million anonymous donation to the Pentagon during the government shutdown. This unprecedented action poses a severe threat to the integrity and independence of our military, and I urge you to take immediate action to reject this donation and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The acceptance of private funds to pay military salaries sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine the very foundations of our democratic system. Our armed forces must remain loyal to the Constitution and the American people, not to wealthy donors or political figures. This donation, reportedly from a 'friend' of President Trump, raises alarming questions about potential conflicts of interest and the erosion of civilian control over the military. Budget and ethics experts have rightfully raised concerns about the legality and implications of such a donation. The Pentagon's gift acceptance policies were never intended to allow private individuals to fund core government functions, especially during a politically charged government shutdown. This action bypasses Congress's constitutional power of the purse and could lead to a system where wealthy individuals or corporations can exert undue influence over our military operations and priorities. The potential consequences of this precedent are far-reaching. It could pave the way for a scenario where our professional, independent military becomes beholden to private interests, effectively creating a privately funded force loyal to donors rather than the nation. This strikes at the heart of our democratic principles and the separation of powers that has long safeguarded our republic. I urge you to take the following actions immediately: 1. Call for an immediate ethics review and rejection of this anonymous donation. 2. Introduce legislation to explicitly prohibit private funding of essential government functions, including military salaries. 3. Investigate the circumstances surrounding this donation and its potential impact on military independence. 4. Work towards resolving the government shutdown through proper legislative channels to ensure our service members are paid without relying on private donations. The integrity of our military and the principles of our democracy are at stake. We must act now to prevent the creation of what could essentially become a private militia loyal to wealthy donors rather than to the Constitution and the American people. Our service members deserve to be paid through proper government funding, not through potentially compromising private donations. I look forward to your swift action on this critical matter and request an update on the steps you will take to address this urgent concern.