Veteran members of Congress, led by Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana and Representative Rick Crawford of Arkansas, have introduced a resolution condemning six Democratic lawmakers for encouraging members of the U.S. military and intelligence community to independently assess and potentially refuse orders from the President. The resolution is co-sponsored by 16 other veteran lawmakers.
The group being condemned includes Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), as well as Representatives Jason Crow (CO-06), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Maggie Goodlander (NH-01), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). On November 18, 2025, these six lawmakers released a video in which they accused the Trump Administration of “pitting” the military and intelligence community against American citizens. In the video, they urged service members and intelligence professionals to judge for themselves whether presidential orders were legal, pledging support if those individuals refused to follow orders they personally considered illegal.
When questioned about any unlawful orders issued by the administration, Senator Slotkin acknowledged she was “not aware of things [orders] that are illegal,” while others did not provide evidence to support their claims.
The resolution introduced by Zinke and Crawford states:
“Denouncing dangerous and seditious rhetoric by Membersof Congress and expressing condemnation of SenatorMark Kelly, Senator Elissa Slotkin, Representative JasonCrow, Representative Christopher Deluzio, RepresentativeMaggie Goodlander, and Representative ChrissyHoulahan for attempting to sow disallegiance amongstmembers of the United States military and intelligencecommunity and encouraging them to act against theCommander in Chief and President of the United Statesand violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
It continues:
“Whereas Congress, which holds the power to declare war, wasso concerned that the chain of command could be underminedby individuals encouraging disloyalty by membersof the military that it made it a Federal crime to advise,counsel, urge, or in any manner cause or attempt tocause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal ofduty by any member of the military;
Whereas, in a video posted on November 18, 2025, and widelydisseminated across social media and the news, theaforementioned Members of Congress urged the militaryand intelligence communities to defy ‘‘illegal’’ orders, insinuating,without evidence, that the administration hasbeen issuing these types of orders;
Whereas UCMJ case law has held that orders are presumedlawful, outside of those obviously unlawful, and are ‘‘disobeyedat the peril of the subordinate’’, without considerationto the ‘‘person’s conscience, religion, or personalphilosophy’’;”
If adopted by the House of Representatives:
“…denounces the dangerous and seditious rhetoric spewing from these six Members of Congress that has led to anenvironment placing troops and their loved ones at riskof harm, compromising and undermining the national security of the United States and the peaceful coexistenceand respect deserved by our brave men and women servingin the military and the intelligence community.”
Ryan Zinke currently represents Montana’s 1st district in Congress after succeeding Steve Daines in 2023. He previously served in both Congress since 2023 as well as in Montana’s state senate from 2009 to 2013. Born in Bozeman in 1961—and now residing in Whitefish—Zinke graduated from University of Oregon with a BS degree in 1984 before earning another degree from National University in 1991.
The list of co-sponsors for this resolution includes several other veteran lawmakers: Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Scott Franklin (FL-18), John McGuire (VA-05), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Keith Self (TX-03), Eli Crane (AZ-02), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Jim Baird (IN-04), Barry Moore (AL-01). Additional supporters include Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Randy Fine (FL-06), Mike Collins (GA-10), Rick Allen (GA-12), Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Pete Sessions (TX-17) and John H. Rutherford (FL‑05).
