Tammy Duckworth

The letter was drafted by Illinois Democratic Senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth. In it, she criticizes Trump's executive order and says that any effort to deny military service, quote, "...based on ideological grounds is inherently un-American." She also asks whether any transgender troops had been prematurely dismissed due to the attempted ban and what steps have been taken to bring them back.

The letter was drafted by Illinois Democratic Senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth. In it, she criticizes Trump's executive order and says that any effort to deny military service, quote, "...based on ideological grounds is inherently un-American." She also asks whether any transgender troops had been prematurely dismissed due to the attempted ban and what steps have been taken to bring them back.

It's unclear whether Secretary Hegseth will reply. In a statement to NPR, a defense official said the agency's policy is to communicate directly with elected officials regarding official correspondence. Elena Moore, NPR News, Washington.

It's unclear whether Secretary Hegseth will reply. In a statement to NPR, a defense official said the agency's policy is to communicate directly with elected officials regarding official correspondence. Elena Moore, NPR News, Washington.

Thanks for having me on, Rachel. It's such an important issue that you're covering.

Thanks for having me on, Rachel. It's such an important issue that you're covering.

I think he should resign because he put those pilots in danger. If you look at the text chain, that's my response was immediately after I read the actual text chain that showed him putting up on this unsecured platform the drones are going to strike, and then he put down exactly how long it was going to be until the F-18s were going to be over the target area.

I think he should resign because he put those pilots in danger. If you look at the text chain, that's my response was immediately after I read the actual text chain that showed him putting up on this unsecured platform the drones are going to strike, and then he put down exactly how long it was going to be until the F-18s were going to be over the target area.

If anybody had compromised that chain, those pilots could have been in danger. And that's why I was so upset, and I used my army language in that text, because he is the guy that's leading the military, and he put those pilots in direct danger.

If anybody had compromised that chain, those pilots could have been in danger. And that's why I was so upset, and I used my army language in that text, because he is the guy that's leading the military, and he put those pilots in direct danger.

And by the way, if I were our allies, if I were the UK or any of our allies, I would think twice about sharing intelligence with us in the future because we've shown that our Secretary of Defense, our national intelligence community, does not know how to safeguard classified information.

And by the way, if I were our allies, if I were the UK or any of our allies, I would think twice about sharing intelligence with us in the future because we've shown that our Secretary of Defense, our national intelligence community, does not know how to safeguard classified information.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for watching.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for watching.

You will be the one man standing in the breach should President Trump give an illegal order, right? I'm not saying he will, but if he does, you are going to be the guy that he calls to implement this order.

You will be the one man standing in the breach should President Trump give an illegal order, right? I'm not saying he will, but if he does, you are going to be the guy that he calls to implement this order.

You will be the one man standing in the breach should President Trump give an illegal order, right? I'm not saying he will, but if he does, you are going to be the guy that he calls to implement this order.

No, I'm not saying he will, but do you believe there is such a thing as an illegal order that Joe Biden or any other president, Donald Trump, could give? Is there anything that a commander-in-chief could ask you to do with the uniformed military that would be in violation of the U.S. Constitution?