The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, has confirmed that there are no plans to deploy U.S. military personnel to polling locations during the November 2026 midterm elections. In a letter addressed to Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, Caine stated that neither federal troops nor federalized National Guard members will be sent to polling sites or used to seize ballots, voting machines, or any other election-related materials.
Caine, who advises Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump on military matters, emphasized that he has neither received nor expects to receive any unlawful orders related to military involvement in the upcoming elections. The letter was obtained Monday by news agencies and addresses growing concerns among Democrats about potential military interference in the electoral process.
Senator Slotkin had requested assurances from Caine and Hegseth in light of what she described as increasing anxiety among Democrats. These concerns stem from President Trump’s past actions, including the deployment of federal agents to Democratic-led states despite local opposition, as well as his contemplation of using the military to seize voting machines following the 2020 presidential election loss. Additionally, Trump has previously employed the National Guard in cities over the objections of Democratic leaders and deployed active-duty Marines during immigration crackdowns, notably in Los Angeles in 2025.
Federal law currently prohibits the use of armed federal forces at elections except when necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States. Should there be any military involvement at polling locations, it would likely involve the National Guard acting under the authority of state governments rather than the federal government.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has denied any intention by President Trump to use the military to suppress voting during the midterms, reaffirming this position in an interview last year. However, Slotkin’s office reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth has not yet responded to her letter requesting a formal confirmation that troops will not be deployed at polling sites. A response was requested by the previous Thursday.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding Hegseth’s reply but had indicated earlier that it would provide a direct response to the senator.
During an April congressional hearing, Slotkin questioned Hegseth on whether he would follow orders to seize ballots if instructed. Hegseth dismissed the scenario as a “gotcha hypothetical” but stated that he has never been ordered to act illegally and would not comply if such an order were given.
This is not the first time Slotkin has raised concerns about military involvement in elections. In 2020, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, responded to similar inquiries by affirming his commitment to an apolitical military and underscoring that any electoral disputes must be resolved through the courts or Congress, not the armed forces.