Count Every Hero sent a letter to the Chairman and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee stressing the need to protect the apolitical nature of the U.S. Military.

Washington, DC – Members of Count Every Hero asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy civil-military relations and the military’s apolitical nature as it considers Peter Hegseth’s nomination to be the Secretary of Defense.

In their letter, these Count Every Hero co-chairs expressed concerns about a reported draft executive order that would establish an external board to review and recommend the removal of any three- and four-star officers deemed unfit. They argue that “the idea of such a board is both unnecessary and threatens to fundamentally undermine the apolitical culture of the military.”

The U.S. military already has time-tested promotion and performance review procedures that ensure that those who rise through the ranks are combat-ready and prepared to serve civilian leaders’ policy directives, regardless of who is in charge.

“The threat of a separate, White House-directed and appointed review board will be seen in the military as a loyalty oath to the sitting President rather than to the Constitution… The message to the force will be, ‘If you want to get ahead, don’t disagree with the political leadership.’ This would politicize national security decisionmaking and weaken national security.”

-Members of Count Every Hero

Read the full letter here.