DNC VMFC

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Veterans & Military Families Council of the Democratic National Committee

Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council Statement on U.S. Military Action Against Iran February 28th, 2026 The leadership of the Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s military attack on Iran: We, the members of the Veterans & Military Families Council, speak with deep concern and clarity about what military escalation truly means. Among us are those who have deployed to war and those who have waited at home as military spouses and family members. We know firsthand that decisions made in Washington ripple through barracks, living rooms, schools, and VA clinics for decades. This is not abstract to us. Military action carries consequences that extend far beyond the battlefield. It affects readiness, VA capacity, mental health systems, military retention, and the long term stability of families who have already sacrificed more than most Americans will ever know. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to decide when our nation enters sustained hostilities. That safeguard exists to ensure deliberation, accountability, and public trust. If American troops are placed in harm's way, the American people deserve transparency about the mission, the risks, and the strategy for bringing service members home and caring for them upon their return. The Veterans & Military Families Council calls on the administration to immediately brief Congress and the American people with honesty and clarity, and we demand Congress assert its constitutional authority over matters of war. Our service members are not pawns and should never be used for political leverage. They are not expendable. They deserve competent, responsible leadership worthy of the sacrifices they and their families are being asked to make on behalf of We The People. Rachel Vindman, Co-Chair Joe Stutler, Co-Chair
Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council Statement Condemning The Extrajudicial Killing of Alex Pretti by ICE Agents January 26th, 2026 As those of us who’ve worn the boots know, one of the first rules drilled into us in combat is simple and non-negotiable: Protect the Docs. Medics exist to save lives when everything goes sideways. You don’t threaten them, you don’t intimidate them, and you sure as hell don’t turn them into targets. That principle reflects something larger than military culture - it reflects a core American value: those who preserve life and uphold the law must be protected, not weaponized or abused. What we are witnessing in Minneapolis violates that value outright. Masked ICE agents operating with impunity, disregarding accountability, escalating conflict, and endangering civilians - including the fatal shootings of Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti, a "Doc" - represent a profound failure of leadership and law enforcement discipline. Federal agents have a difficult job, but difficulty does not excuse lawlessness, intimidation, or acting in open defiance of state and local authorities. These tactics are not about public safety; they are about fear, provocation, and control - and they have already cost American lives. This moment demands an immediate course correction. The federal government must halt these reckless operations, submit to transparent investigation, and work with - not against - local leaders to restore order and protect constitutional rights. Americans should continue to draw strength from peaceful protest and civic engagement, because history shows that when government overreaches, it is the responsibility of the people to speak out. Our democracy, like our fellow service members in harm’s way, depends on accountability, restraint, and the courage to say: this is wrong, and it must stop.. Rachel Vindman, Co-Chair Joe Stutler, Co-Chair DNC VMFC
Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council Statement Condemning Secretary Hegseth’s Abhorrent Weaponization of Military Retirement Benefits January 14th, 2026 The Veterans and Military Families Council of the Democratic National Committee strongly condemns Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for threatening to strip Senator Mark Kelly of his earned military retirement benefits based on a reckless and false accusation of treason. As a retired U.S. Navy Captain, Senator Kelly did exactly what generations of noncommissioned officers, officers, and judge advocates have required of service members: he reminded them of their oath to the Constitution. Calling that duty “treason” is a lie. Threatening to revoke a veteran’s retirement pay for honoring that oath is dangerous, unlawful in spirit, and corrosive to the professionalism of our armed forces. The Secretary of Defense does not get to rewrite military law or punish veterans for telling the truth. Members of the U.S. military swear an oath to the Constitution - not to a president, not to a political party, and not to an individual. That principle is foundational to civilian control of the military and essential to maintaining an apolitical, honorable force. Military retirement pay is not a privilege. It is earned through years of sacrifice: repeated deployments, time away from family, and real risk to life and limb. Weaponizing those earned benefits for political retaliation crosses a line that should never be crossed in a democracy. We stand with retired Captain and Senator Mark Kelly, and with every service member who takes their oath seriously. Using the military as a tool for political payback dishonors the uniform and undermines the very Constitution our service members are sworn to defend. Plain and simple. Rachel Vindman, Co-Chair Joe Stutler, Co-Chair DNC VMFC