Sen. Slotkin asks Defense Secretary Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Caine to confirm Pentagon will stay out of midterm voting

Sen. Elissa Slotkin wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pressing them to confirm that the U.S. military will not be used in any role that could interfere with the 2026 midterm elections. In letters sent Tuesday, Slotkin said she was seeking “a simple statement” that the Department of Defense “will not send Federal troops to the polls or to seize election materials of any kind.”

Slotkin’s letters focus on two specific categories of action: deployment to polling locations and the seizure of election materials. The senator’s request indicates concern about whether any expanded authorities, internal planning, or election-support activity could be interpreted in a way that affects voting access or the integrity of election administration, particularly in an environment where election procedures are closely watched by the public and monitored by state officials.

The letters also position the request as a matter of clear boundaries for the Defense Department during an election cycle. Slotkin’s phrasing, according to PBS NewsHour, is designed to obtain a direct commitment rather than a broad description of election assistance practices. The senator’s concern, as reflected in the request, is centered on ensuring that any federal role stays limited and does not cross into functions that would ordinarily be the responsibility of election officials, law enforcement, and state-run voting operations.

Hegseth and Caine are the senior uniformed and civilian leaders Slotkin addressed. Hegseth leads the Department of Defense, while Caine chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff, giving him a key role in advising on military posture and coordinating among the services. By sending the request to both the civilian defense leader and the top uniformed officer, Slotkin sought confirmation across the chain that would govern military preparedness and any possible election-related missions.

The request comes as Americans continue to scrutinize the line between military authority and civilian election administration. Even where federal law contemplates limited military support for civil authorities in emergencies, the senator’s letters underscore the importance of separating emergency assistance from any action that could be viewed as influencing who wins an election or disrupting how ballots and election equipment are handled.

Slotkin’s letter also highlights the practical effect of any commitment or non-commitment. A clear statement that the Defense Department will not send federal troops to polling places or seize election materials would help state and local officials, election workers, and voters understand the limits of federal military involvement in the election environment, reducing the risk of confusion, heightened tensions, or disruption at polling sites.

What happens next will depend on whether Hegseth and Caine provide the confirmation Slotkin requested and whether the Defense Department issues any clarifying statement about its approach to election-year activities. If the officials do not respond with the specific assurance sought, the senator’s letters could become part of a broader public and congressional record on how the Pentagon defines and implements boundaries during national elections.

In the meantime, Slotkin’s action adds another procedural check to election-cycle governance, emphasizing civilian control over political processes and the need for consistent rules across agencies with different responsibilities for public safety and national security. The letters, as reported by PBS NewsHour, seek not operational details, but a direct commitment about prohibited actions at polling places and with election materials.