Common Defense
500 signatures reached
To: Members of Congress
Defend the Constitution: Military Must Refuse Illegal Orders
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As veterans, active-duty military personnel, military family members, and civilian supporters, we stand with Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan, in reiterating the obligation of U.S. military servicemembers to refuse illegal orders.
All members of the United States military have an obligation to refuse orders that run contrary to our laws or Constitution.
Like many in uniform, we are deeply concerned that members of the military are being used as political props to police, intimidate, and repress United States residents.
We urge every senator and representative to speak out forcefully against attempts to involve the military in partisan conflicts and domestic politics.
Silence in such moments is not neutrality; it is abdication of duty.
Why is this important?
At a moment when public trust in democratic institutions is being tested, Congress must be clear that the use of armed U.S. servicemembers to advance a political agenda—whether through deployment, intimidation, or interference in domestic affairs—undermines the checks and balances that protect our Republic.
On November 19th, 2025, Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan released a video reminding members of the U.S. armed forces of their obligation to refuse illegal orders.
In response, the Trump Administration unleashed a torrent of violent rhetoric, including President Trump posting on social media that these lawmakers should perhaps be executed.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced a sham Pentagon investigation targeting Senator Kelly, a retired Navy Captain.
These actions violate some of the most basic principles of our democracy. We believe elected officials should ensure that members of the military know their rights and the resources available to them should they find themselves in situations where they may receive illegal orders.
We call on ALL members of Congress to stand with their six colleagues and remind the Executive Branch that the United States military is not a political instrument, but an institution loyal to the Constitution and to the country, not to any president or political party.