DNC Veterans & Military Families Council Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1 – March 1, 2026
Co-Chairs Notes
Welcome to the very first issue of the DNC Veterans & Military Families Council Newsletter!
We are proud to launch this new platform as a way to strengthen our connection with veterans, service members, caregivers, and military families across the country. Our community is built on service – not just in uniform, but in advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement. This newsletter will serve as a regular source of updates from the Council, highlight issues affecting our community, and ensure that the voices of those who have borne the battle – and their families – are heard clearly within the Democratic Party and beyond.
In this inaugural issue, you’ll find important information about our upcoming April meeting in New Orleans as we gather for the DNC Spring Meeting, including scheduling updates and RSVP details. We revisit the outcomes of our December convening in Los Angeles and outline the upcoming Co-Chair election process, an important opportunity to strengthen our leadership team. We also share the Council’s official statement on U.S. military action against Iran – speaking from the lived experience of both those who have deployed to war and those who have waited at home. In addition, we examine the long-term impact of Wisconsin’s Right-to-Work law on veterans and military families navigating the transition to civilian careers. And finally, we’re excited to announce that the VMFC has officially joined Bluesky, expanding how we connect and engage.
Thank you for your continued leadership, service, and commitment. We are honored to stand alongside you as we work to ensure veterans and military families remain at the center of our nation’s policy conversations. We are stronger together.
Rachel Vindman & Joe Stutler, Co-Chairs
April Meeting – Big Easy Bound
We are excited to see you in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the next DNC Meeting taking place April 9-11, 2026, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. As we are planning ahead, we want to share a few updates as we head into the Spring Meeting.
The VMFC meeting is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. Day and time subject to change. You can find the tentative schedule for the Spring 2026 DNC Meeting here. A finalized agenda is forthcoming. We also kindly ask that you RSVP and let us know whether or not you will be attending the upcoming meeting so we can better plan for your arrival. Please let us know if you will be attending using this form.
For a recap of our December 2025 meeting in Los Angeles, go here.
If you are planning to join us, please click here to secure your hotel reservation at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and to access an exclusive discounted rate of $239/night (plus tax).
Military Action Against Iran
February 28th, 2026
The leadership of the Democratic National Committee Veterans & Military Families Council issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s military attack on Iran:
We, the members of the Veterans & Military Families Council, speak with deep concern and clarity about what military escalation truly means.
Among us are those who have deployed to war and those who have waited at home as military spouses and family members. We know firsthand that decisions made in Washington ripple through barracks, living rooms, schools, and VA clinics for decades. This is not abstract to us.
Military action carries consequences that extend far beyond the battlefield. It affects readiness, VA capacity, mental health systems, military retention, and the long term stability of families who have already sacrificed more than most Americans will ever know.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to decide when our nation enters sustained hostilities. That safeguard exists to ensure deliberation, accountability, and public trust. If American troops are placed in harm’s way, the American people deserve transparency about the mission, the risks, and the strategy for bringing service members home and caring for them upon their return.
The Veterans & Military Families Council calls on the administration to immediately brief Congress and the American people with honesty and clarity, and we demand Congress assert its constitutional authority over matters of war.
Our service members are not pawns and should never be used for political leverage. They are not expendable. They deserve competent, responsible leadership worthy of the sacrifices they and their families are being asked to make on behalf of We The People.
Rachel Vindman & Joe Stutler, Co-Chairs
Co-Chair Election At April Meeting
The Veterans & Military Family Council is pleased to invite you to our General meeting where we will be conducting an election to fill the position of Co-Chair which will be held in April 2026 at the DNC meetings in New Orleans.
The Mission of the VMFC is to build and coordinate a national network of veterans and military families that will assist in electing Democrats in national, state, and local elections, promote the accomplishments and agenda of the [Democratic] President’s Administration and other Democratic Party elected officials, and to enhance and coordinate programs and activities of other elements of the Democratic Party of the United States.
If you have a desire to run for this position on the Executive Board please see the below rules:
– Per DNC gender rules the leadership shall consist of two persons who identify as different genders. Only persons who identify as Male or Non Binary and are a Veteran may apply for candidacy for this position.
– The election will be in person in April 2026 at the VMFC Meeting in New Orleans.
– You do not need to attend the meeting in order to run.
– Please return the Nomination form by March 9, 2026. (This is for planning purposes) VMFC Nomination Election Form
– Nominations will be taken from the floor.
– You must attend the meeting to vote, proxy voting is not permitted.
If you have any questions or concerns about the election please contact Vice Chair of Membership Frederick Nickens at membership@dncvmfc.org.
We hope to see you in New Orleans and remember: We Are Stronger Together.
Sincerely,
Rachel Vindman & Joe Stutler, Co-Chairs
Right-To-Work, A Wisconsin Perspective
In 2015, Wisconsin enacted Right-to-Work legislation through Wisconsin Act 1. The law prohibits private-sector employers from requiring workers to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. Supporters describe the change as a protection of individual choice. Critics argue that it weakens unions and reduces workers’ ability to negotiate collectively for fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions.
For veterans and military families, the issue is not theoretical. It is personal.
Many veterans transition from military service into careers in public service, manufacturing, transportation, health care, and the skilled trades fields where union contracts have historically provided stability. Those contracts often guaranteed structured pay scales, health coverage, retirement security, seniority protections during layoffs, and clear grievance procedures if a worker was unfairly disciplined. For Guard and Reserve members, union agreements frequently reinforced job protections during deployments. For veteran employees, that structure offered predictability at a critical moment of transition from military to civilian life.
When Wisconsin adopted Right-to-Work, union membership declined in the years that followed. Because unions are still legally required to represent every employee in a bargaining unit – even those who choose not to contribute financially – reduced membership can mean fewer resources to negotiate contracts and enforce workplace protections. Labor advocates argue that this loss of bargaining strength has affected wage growth and overall middle-class stability, outcomes that directly affect military families who depend on reliable civilian employment after service.
The impact is also felt in veteran care settings. At facilities such as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, staffing challenges and turnover have drawn public attention in recent years. Stable staffing, competitive wages, and safe working conditions are closely tied to collective bargaining agreements. When those agreements weaken, advocates argue, it can contribute to instability in care environments. For veterans living in state facilities, that instability is not abstract – it affects continuity of care and overall quality of life.
Supporters of Right-to-Work contend that no worker should be compelled to financially support a union and that the law restores balance under the National Labor Relations Act. Opponents counter that weakening unions diminishes collective bargaining power, lowers wage growth over time, and erodes protections that have long supported working families – including veterans.
At its core, the debate over Right-to-Work in Wisconsin centers on competing values: individual choice on one side, and collective strength on the other. For veterans and military families, the stakes involve economic stability after service, workplace safety, due process, and the quality of care provided to those who have worn the uniform.
Wisconsin’s 2015 law marked a major shift in labor policy. Its long-term effects continue to unfold, but for many veterans and military families, the consequences are measured not in policy language, but in paychecks, job security, and the care their fellow veterans receive.
The Sky Is…..Blue‽
The sky is.….blue‽ It sure is – and now so are we! The Veterans & Military Families Council has officially joined Bluesky, and we’re excited to connect with veterans, service members, military families, and advocates in a whole new space. Follow us for updates, stories, and action focused on supporting those who’ve worn the uniform and their family members. Join us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/dncvmfc.org and stay connected.
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