Senator Seeks Assurance from Defense Secretary on Troop Deployment Concerns
Amid growing concerns about potential military interference in the upcoming midterm elections, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has reached out to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for assurance that U.S. troops will not be deployed to polling places.
Slotkin’s request comes as Democrats fear that the Trump administration may use the military to disrupt the electoral process. In a letter to Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Slotkin emphasized the importance of ensuring that federal troops do not intervene in the election.
The Pentagon has confirmed that it will respond directly to Slotkin’s inquiry, as is customary for all congressional correspondence. However, the Joint Chiefs have not yet commented on the matter.
Slotkin cited previous instances where President Trump hinted at using the military for election-related purposes, raising concerns about the potential manipulation of election outcomes. She highlighted Trump’s past discussions about seizing voting machines and deploying National Guard troops against the wishes of Democratic leaders.
During a congressional hearing in April, Slotkin questioned Hegseth about the possibility of seizing ballots, to which Hegseth responded that he would not carry out any illegal orders. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles also dismissed the idea of using the military to suppress voting in the midterms.
Under federal law, armed federal forces are prohibited from being deployed to election locations unless deemed necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States. If military involvement were to occur, it would likely be through the National Guard under state control.
In a previous incident in 2020, Gen. Mark Milley reaffirmed the apolitical stance of the U.S. military and emphasized that any election disputes should be resolved through legal channels, not military intervention.
