1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my concern about recent policy changes that threaten both our national security and Massachusetts' economic wellbeing through impacts on our vital defense industry. The defense sector is a cornerstone of our state's economy. Recent economic analysis shows that the defense industry contributes approximately 7.1% to Massachusetts' GDP, with a total economic impact of $48.6 billion and supporting over 139,000 jobs across the Commonwealth10. This significantly outpaces the national average, where defense spending represents approximately 3% of the overall U.S. economy11. Massachusetts military installations alone generate more than $13.2 billion in economic activity and support over 57,000 jobs8. Over the past decade, the federal government has invested nearly $1 billion in capital construction at Massachusetts military installations8, reinforcing the sector's crucial role in our state's economy. Recent decisions to curtail U.S. weapons support to Ukraine, halt support for F-16 programs, and reduce intelligence sharing with allies raise serious concerns. These actions not only undermine our strategic position globally but also create uncertainty for our defense industrial base. When the U.S. demonstrates inconsistency in honoring security commitments, we risk: Diminished willingness of international partners to collaborate on joint security initiatives Reduced confidence in U.S. defense equipment and technology, as potential customers question our reliability as suppliers Long-term damage to our defense industrial base, which could impact thousands of Massachusetts jobs The defense industry's stability depends on predictable policy and trusted international partnerships. Arbitrary changes to longstanding security commitments send troubling signals to our allies and create economic uncertainty for our state's defense contractors and their employees. I urge you to advocate for policies that maintain America's security commitments and support our defense industrial base. Please work to ensure that short-term political decisions do not undermine our long-term security interests and economic stability in Massachusetts. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I would appreciate hearing your position on these issues and what actions you plan to take.