1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

As a Marine, I cannot imagine that you feel comfortable watching our military—and our nation’s security—being placed in the hands of people like Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz. These men have shown a staggering lack of judgment and professionalism, and the recent reports of war plans being discussed on an unsecured Signal chat—which included a journalist by mistake—should be a line no one in uniform, or who has worn the uniform, can accept. This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about leadership. You know what it means to lead. You know the gravity of war and the sacred trust between military leaders and the troops under their command. You also know that operational security isn’t a suggestion—it’s a duty. The recklessness of Hegseth and others, whether they were “texting war plans” or not, is an embarrassment. More than that, it’s dangerous. American lives are on the line. We’re watching carelessness and incompetence masquerade as strategy. Fire emojis and fist bumps in group texts do not replace sound policy, secure channels, or the deliberate, measured thinking this country needs when we’re talking about military intervention. This is amateur hour—and our troops, and the American people, deserve professionals, not personalities. You’ve built a career on national defense. Please don’t stay silent. This moment demands courage, not complacency. You can be remembered as the Marine who stood up to reckless leadership, or as a senator who stayed quiet when it mattered most. Thank you for your service—and for doing what’s right, not just what’s easy.