Congress Urges Pentagon to Stay Out of Politics
- Lawmakers are pushing Pentagon leaders to commit to keeping the military out of politics.
- Congress seeks assurances that active-duty troops will not be used unlawfully in election activities.
- The focus is on reaffirming U.S. law that prohibits military forces from involvement in civilian law enforcement.
As the presidential election campaign intensifies, members of Congress are urging Pentagon leaders to ensure that the military remains apolitical and is not misused as a domestic police force. This call comes in the wake of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which sought to overturn Joe Biden's election victory. Former President Donald Trump continues to assert, without evidence, that fraud influenced the 2020 election results, raising concerns about the potential for political manipulation of the military. In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. CQ Brown, lawmakers, including Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Mikie Sherrill, emphasized the importance of adhering to U.S. laws that prohibit military involvement in civilian law enforcement. They referenced Project 2025, a conservative agenda that includes proposals to reshape federal agencies and suggests a potential military role in border policing, heightening fears of politicization. Slotkin and Sherrill's letter echoes similar concerns raised before the 2020 election, where military leaders, including former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, affirmed their commitment to an apolitical military. Milley stated that any electoral disputes should be resolved by U.S. courts and Congress, not the military. Austin has also expressed his commitment to keeping the military out of political affairs, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its neutrality. The Insurrection Act does allow for military intervention in cases of insurrection, but lawmakers are wary of its potential misuse in the current political climate, urging vigilance to protect democratic processes.