Garrett Exner, Veterans On Duty Board Member and former U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Officer, issued the following statement regarding the impending government shutdown:
“The looming shutdown is a reckless political gamble that jeopardizes America’s national security. Gridlock in Washington will directly weaken our warfighters’ ability to respond to the growing threats confronting our nation and our allies.
Even as Congress stalls, our adversaries press forward. In recent days, Russian aircraft have entered U.S. and NATO airspace, while the Chinese Communist Party continues to expand its military capabilities and openly brandish advanced technologies to signal its ambitions toward Taiwan and beyond.
Lawmakers face a choice: allow partisanship to erode our military strength or act decisively to protect U.S. interests abroad. That requires avoiding a shutdown, modernizing our forces, and rebuilding the defense industrial base to meet the demands of renewed great-power competition.
At this pivotal moment, Veterans On Duty urges Congress to put national security above politics. The safety of our troops, the credibility of our alliances, and the security of the American people depend on it.”
