WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 13 former Combatant Commanders sent a letter to Congress calling for new global pandemic response resources to combat growing U.S. national security threats being multiplied by the global pandemic and its humanitarian impacts. Click here or view below for the full letter:

February 10, 2022

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Charles Schumer Majority Leader
United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader
United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell:

We write to thank you for your leadership and actions that are helping to protect our citizens and combat the global threat of COVID-19 around the world.

As leaders who served at the highest levels of military service and as regional combatant commanders who oversaw operations in Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the greater Middle East, we believe the ongoing threat to our national security from the global pandemic and its destabilizing impacts remains grave.

In each of our previous Areas of Responsibility, growing threats from authoritarianism, conflict, hunger, and migration are creating a world that is less stable and less friendly to our national interests. Throughout the world, our competitors and adversaries are leveraging this instability to their advantage.

Every American should be proud that our nation is the leading global donor of COVID-19 vaccines, yet it is clear that vaccination rates remain too low in developing countries if we are going to arrest the pandemic and its aftershocks around the world.

Failure to address the continued global spread of COVID-19 directly impacts the health and security of Americans. That is why it is imperative that our nation matches the scale of this threat with additional targeted resources for the global COVID-19 response. Of course, America cannot lead this effort alone, and it is critical that we lead by example, rallying our allies and partners to step up their efforts to combat the virus and its impacts on global stability.

As you evaluate funding needs to keep America safe, we urge you to prioritize new emergency resources for the global COVID-19 response, including for global vaccination efforts and to mitigate the pandemic’s destabilizing impacts around the world in final negotiations on FY22 spending levels.

Thank you for your consideration and bipartisan leadership at this critical moment. Very respectfully,

General Wesley Clark, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. European Command; U.S. Southern Command

General Bantz Craddock, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. European Command; U.S. Southern Command

Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Central Command; U.S. Pacific Command

Admiral Thomas Fargo, USN (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

General Douglas Fraser, USAF (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Southern Command

General James Hill, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Southern Command

Admiral Samuel Locklear III, USN (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

General David Petraeus, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Central Command

Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. European Command; U.S. Southern Command
Co-Chair, National Security Advisory Council, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

General Joseph Votel, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Central Command; U.S. Special Operations Command

General Thomas Waldhauser, USMC (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Africa Command

Lt. General Kip Ward, USA (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Africa Command

General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.)
Commander, U.S. Central Command
Co-Chair, National Security Advisory Council, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

CC:
The Honorable Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Richard C. Shelby, Vice Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Christopher Coons, Chairman, Senate State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
The Honorable Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member, Senate State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Kay Granger, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Barbara Lee, Chairwoman, House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
The Honorable Harold Rogers, Ranking Member, House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee