In a scathing letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) criticized “partisans and obstructionists” within the Defense Department who are already plotting ways to thwart the recent president’s agenda.
Cotton was responding to reports that officials within the United States government are plotting against President-elect Donald Trump to undermine decisions he believes are justified to advance this nation’s interests.
For example, mass deportations or the dismissal of underperforming civil servants.
“It appears that partisans and obstructionists within the Defense Department are laying the groundwork to defy or circumvent President Trump’s plans for military and civil service reform.” Cotton wrote. “These actions undermine civilian control of the military and our constitutional structure of government.”
Partisan actions undermine civilian control of our military and our constitutional government structure.
The Pentagon should stop this nonsense and move forward with handing over the reins to the next administration. https://t.co/KtzwaqXW0d
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 26, 2024
As RedState previously reported, the core of these rogue officials’ concerns is Trump’s stated intention to issue a national emergency declaration to repurpose Pentagon assets for the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.
“Troops are required by law not to obey unlawful orders,” a defense official claimed. “But the question is what happens then – do we see resignations of senior military leaders? Or would they see this as abandonment of their people?”
“’Troops have a legal obligation not to obey unlawful orders,’ another defense official said. ‘But the question is what happens then – do we see resignations of senior military leaders? Or would they see this as abandonment of their people?’” https://t.co/mDVVQkCMmd
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) November 9, 2024
Cotton also took direct aim at Austin in his letter, claiming: “You also sent a message to the department the day after the election stating that the military would follow the new president’s ‘lawful orders’ – one barely.” veiled and unfounded insinuation that President Trump will issue unlawful orders.”
The Republican senator claims that the Defense Department’s actions to prepare for Trump by calling his agenda “unlawful” are evidence that the entire department is in dire need of a major overhaul.
“And of course, while these tactics are inappropriate and annoying, they are also useless because no action by the outgoing administration can limit the new president’s constitutional authority as commander in chief,” Cotton concludes.
“So please stop this nonsense and get to work handing over the reins to the next government.”
It’s almost certain they’ll “leave the nonsense behind” once candidate Pete Hegseth replaces Austin. Before Hegseth was nominated by Trump, he had some very compelling thoughts about cleaning up the Defense Department.
🚨NEW: Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on reforming US military leadership:
Anyone “involved in the woke bullshit needs to go…You need to restore that trust by putting no-nonsense war fighters in the positions who don’t address the social issues…” pic.twitter.com/9181gOVp2q
– Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 13, 2024
“First of all, you need to fire the Chairman of Chiefs and of course install a new Secretary of Defense, but every general who was involved, general, admiral, whatever – who was involved, every one of the woke DEI soldiers.” **t, has to go Hegseth said during an interview on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast.
The obstructionists who think they can’t obey the president’s orders because they have personally found them unlawful must also go.
