WASHINGTON — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine stated in a letter that the Joint Force has no plans to send Federal military personnel or Federalized members of the National Guard to polling places during the 2026 elections. The letter was obtained on Monday.

The correspondence was addressed to Democratic US Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who had asked Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm they would not send troops to the polls. In the document, he stated that the Joint Force has no plans to use personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material.

He wrote in the letter that he has neither received nor anticipates receiving any unlawful order concerning the role of the Joint Force in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he advises Hegseth and President Donald Trump on military matters.

Senator Elissa Slotkin responded to the clarification in a news release, emphasizing the importance of civilian control over the armed forces. "The nonpartisan tradition of military service and constitutional guardrails preventing the military from becoming a domestic police force are essential to maintaining democracy," Slotkin said. She added that the nation’s senior-most defense and security leaders are the final failsafe for democracy.

Sonja Thrasher, Senator Slotkin’s press secretary, said Hegseth has not replied to the letter asking him to confirm troops will not be deployed to the polls in November. Slotkin had asked for a response from Hegseth by last Thursday.

Slotkin earlier in August that President Trump has been laying the groundwork to claim the November elections were stolen. She noted that Trump contemplated using the military to seize voting machines after his loss in 2020 to President Joe Biden. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles denied in a Vanity Fair interview last year that Trump would use the military to suppress voting in the midterms.

Timeline

In 2020, General Mark Milley, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded to a similar letter from Elissa Slotkin, who was then a member of the US House of Representatives. General Mark Milley wrote in 2020 that he believes deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military. He also wrote in 2020 that in the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required by law to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles denied in a Vanity Fair interview last year that President Trump would use the military to suppress voting in the midterms. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Senator Slotkin's question about seizing ballots a 'gotcha hypothetical' during an April congressional hearing.

What's New

He stated during the same hearing that he has never been ordered to do anything illegal and will not. In 2020, Gen. Mark Milley, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded to a similar letter from Slotkin, then a congresswoman.

Slotkin asked Hegseth during an April congressional hearing if he would follow orders to seize ballots. Hegseth called the question a 'gotcha hypothetical,' but said, 'I've never been ordered to do anything illegal, and I won't.'

Why It Matters

The letter from General Dan Caine addresses concerns about the potential use of federal military assets in domestic election administration. By explicitly stating that there are no plans to deploy personnel to polling places or seize election materials, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reinforces the boundary between military operations and civilian law enforcement. This clarification comes as Senator Elissa Slotkin and other officials monitor statements from political leaders regarding election integrity and the possibility of disputed outcomes.

The interaction shows the ongoing scrutiny of defense leadership's commitment to constitutional norms. Senator Elissa Slotkin described senior defense leaders as the final failsafe for democracy, reflecting the weight placed on their public assurances. The lack of a response from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite a requested deadline, leaves one part of the senator's inquiry unresolved as the November 2026 midterm elections approach.