Advocacy

Our Advocacy page is where The Steady State’s coalition of veteran national security, intelligence, and diplomatic professionals translates expert analysis into direct action. Here, we highlight our ongoing efforts to safeguard American democracy and the U.S. Constitution from authoritarian threats and institutional politicization. Through public campaigns, strategic endorsements, policy recommendations, and direct engagement with lawmakers and the media, we leverage our collective decades of national security experience to promote accountability, protect democratic norms, and mobilize support for preserving the rule of law.

Letter The Steady State Letter The Steady State

Letter to Congress Requesting Congressional Oversight

We write regarding the announcement that the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will be public and subsequent reporting that the Department of Defense intends to livestream it. We are outraged that the Administration is considering live-streaming the execution by firing squad, and strongly urge members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to conduct oversight as regards the issues raised below.

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Hatch Act Complaint The Steady State Hatch Act Complaint The Steady State

Complaint concerning Kash Patel, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation — appearance with Rep. Derrick Van Orden

The Steady State is an organization of more than 430 former national security, intelligence, diplomatic, military, law enforcement, and homeland security officials who served across administrations of both parties. We write to request that the Office examine whether Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, violated 5 U.S.C. § 7323(a)(1) and 5 C.F.R. § 734.302 in connection with an appearance he made with Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Monday, August 3, 2026. 

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Hatch Act Complaint Steven Cash Hatch Act Complaint Steven Cash

Request for investigation and preservation of evidence concerning the appearance of the  Deputy Attorney General of the United States at the Conservative Political Action  Conference

Request for investigation and preservation of evidence concerning the appearance of the  Deputy Attorney General of the United States at the Conservative Political Action  Conference on March 26, 2026, and his statements there concerning election administration  and Department charging activity 

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FOIA Appeal Steven Cash FOIA Appeal Steven Cash

FOIA Appeal — OSC FOIA/PA Request No. FOIA-2026-153

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6) and 5 C.F.R. § 1820.6, The Steady State ("Requester") appeals the  determination of the Office of Special Counsel ("OSC") dated August 25, 2026 in FOIA-2026-153.1 This  appeal is timely: OSC’s determination letter is dated August 25, 2026, and the Office of General Counsel  is receiving this appeal within the ninety-calendar-day period prescribed by 5 C.F.R. § 1820.6, which ends  Monday, November 23, 2026.2

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Amicus Brief The Steady State Amicus Brief The Steady State

Amicus Brief, Brennan v Blanche

The Steady State’s interest in this case is that its members dedicated their professional lives to defending America’s democratic values and the rule of law at home, and promoting those values abroad, with extensive experience balancing homeland and national security imperatives against constitutional and legal frameworks that protect individual rights. Many of amicus’ members spent their careers confronting, reporting on and studying the rise of authoritarian governments across the globe—in regimes that misuse intelligence, internal security and military services and paramilitary militias to consolidate a political leader’s power by suppressing lawful dissent and violating laws. 

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Analysis The Steady State Analysis The Steady State

Strategic Business Risk Assessment: Growing Authoritarianism and American Business

We assess with high confidence that accelerating authoritarian dynamics in the United States are already generating direct and growing risks to American businesses, both abroad and at home. This risk environment is defined less by episodic shocks than by a structural shift away from rules-based governance toward personalized, discretionary power, in which proximity to political authority increasingly shapes commercial outcomes.

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Letter The Steady State Letter The Steady State

The Steady State Sends Demand Letter to Department of Homeland Security Over Threats to Protected Speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Steady State, an organization of more than 380 former senior U.S. national-security, intelligence, diplomatic, defense, and law-enforcement officials, today sent a formal demand letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning public statements by a senior DHS official threatening “consequences” for individuals engaging in constitutionally protected speech.

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