MAY 2026 NEWSLETTER
“Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces,
for without them, there will be no other rights to guard.”
–John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President
Ombudsman column: The Pentagon is trying to silence me Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith was recently notified her last day in the role would be April 28, 2026…No one should be surprised that they’re kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence.
Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes ombudsman amid independence dispute
Trump Administration's Attacks on Freedom of The Press
World Press Freedom Day May 3
(Source: United Nations)
“World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. After 31 years, the historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as was at the time of its signing…This May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.” UNESCO report warns serious decline in freedom of expression & safety of journalists
“Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation’s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech. That principle has preserved the nation’s security for almost 250 years. It must not be abandoned now.” – U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman
Greetings!
Join Veterans who are making a difference around the world on May 2nd to celebrate the fifth VFW Day of Service highlighting Veterans who never stop serving.
Great News: Senate Fails to Advance SAVE Act, Millions of Voters Retain Their Right to Vote for Now! “We are glad to see the SAVE Act stall in the Senate once again. We are grateful to every senator who stood firm against it. To every American who called, wrote and organized to make their voice heard, thank you — your voice matters.”
The saga of self aggrandizement continues with the current occupant of the White House touting his plans to build the world’s biggest commemorative arch, resembling a copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the flaunting of acceptable practice of Congressional approval. “When asked by CBS political correspondent Ed O'Keefe whom the monument was intended to honor after Trump initially unveiled his plans in October, Trump responded: ‘Me’ ”. Vietnam Veterans sue to block proposed ‘Independence Arch’ near Arlington National Cemetery
When will these personal commemoration projects stop? Where is this money coming from? What happened to cost saving? The Costs of Using the Name “Department of War” is estimated at a million dollars and is just another new item, along with the cost of the war in Iran, in the expanding U.S. $39 trillion deficit. Let us not forget that the current occupant of the White House cut aid for mothers and children, including food stamps, which affects the health of U.S. citizens. Before a Triumphal Arch is even considered and a ballroom created to entertain mainly foreign guests, the U.S. government needs to provide for the basic needs of U.S. citizens which include food programs, affordable housing, and health care. “The United States spends more on its military than the next ten countries combined. If the U.S. matched the world average (excluding itself), here is what we would save and what that money could fund instead.” The present occupant of the White House says it's 'not possible' for the U.S. to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and day care: 'We’re fighting wars' “For the cost of 3 weeks of this war, we could provide vision, hearing, and dental coverage to every senior on Medicare for a year. It is possible. Trump just doesn’t care to do it.”--Sen. Andy Kim
Hegseth orders termination of union contracts - “Spared from this memo are unions like the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the Federal Education Association, who both secured preliminary injunctions blocking implementation of the executive order, which cites a seldom-used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to strip two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights on national security grounds, last fall.”
Judge Florence Pan wrote in September 2025: “Here, we need not blindly accept the government’s dubious contention that a subdivision staffed by grade-school educators plays a prominent role ‘in support of DOD’s overall national security mission.’ Nor should we fail to probe the government’s conclusory assertion that the instant injunction ‘inflicts irreparable harm on the president by impeding his national-security prerogatives.’ It is the government’s burden to convince us that restoring union protections to federal employees focused on K-12 education will make the country less safe. Because the government fails to meet that burden, I disagree with our dissenting colleague’s unquestioning acceptance of the government’s implausible claim of irreparable harm.”
Voting as a military service member: You can vote from anywhere, whether you’re stationed in the U.S. or overseas. Military service members, merchant marines, members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and their eligible family members can vote in U.S. elections from anywhere in the world. This also applies to U.S. civilians who are living outside the U.S. Be an active U.S. citizen and vote! If you go to the ExPatFair on May 30th in Berlin, why not mingle with the attendees and share VFA cards-this is a great opportunity to help U.S. citizens request their absentee ballots!
Resist with Democrats Abroad! Phonebanking volunteers needed! Take the Voter Assistance Training - Democrats Abroad. Join our DAG VMF Voter Outreach Team. Contact us:[email protected] We need your help!
Commemorate Memorial Day on Saturday, May 23, by honoring the only member of the Ghost Army who is buried in Germany. Organize a visit to lay a wreath at the grave of Helmet Isenberg in the Jewish Cemetery at the Nordfriedhof, Platter Str. 83, 65193 Wiesbaden, bus lines 3 and 6, bus stop "Nordfriedhof". Let us know if you can be there.
In Unity,
Robert Scott and Terese Sarno
DAG VMF Caucus Co-Chairs DA Germany
What would you like to organize? Contact us at [email protected]
Ready to join our caucus? Be part of the conversation and make your voice heard
NEWS YOU CAN USE
OF THE 2.2 MILLION OVERSEAS CITIZENS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, 11% VOTED IN 2024
“About 2.2 million citizens living abroad are eligible to vote absentee — in many cases, even if they have never lived in the United States. They're covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986, which requires that states allow military members, their eligible family and overseas citizens to vote absentee in federal elections.”
86th Airlift Wing New Retiree Affairs Office (RAO) Kapaun AS, Bldg. 2787, 1st Floor-no stairs (Rooms 109, 110/112, 113, and 114) - lots of available parking. Open Tuesday through Friday, 1000 to 1200 and 1300 to 1500. Stop by with your questions! Volunteers are always needed if you have some extra time!
988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the mental health hotline
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO)
How TRICARE covers durable medical equipment
Veteran Engagement Reporting Application (VERA) for virtual appointments
Overseas Military Services Coordinators:
Kaiserslautern
[email protected], [email protected]
Go to https://pptform.state.gov and complete the questionnaire. Application MUST be typed using the online version with a 2D barcode. Handwritten or fillable PDF applications will be rejected.
Win for Michigan’s Overseas Voters -April 22, 2026
The voting rights of Michigan voters abroad have again been upheld by the courts, who rejected Republican efforts to exclude voting-age children and spouses of Americans living abroad-including service members-to vote absentee, using their last residence.
Trump’s Department of War Rebrand Backfires With Legal Blow
The Pentagon has been formally barred from using "Department of War" as its official name, with new guidance making clear the term may be used only as a limited secondary title and not in legal or investigative proceedings.
Justice Department says law requiring president to turn over records at end of administration is unconstitutional -”The Department of Justice has concluded that the Presidential Records Act of 1978 is unconstitutional, allowing President Trump to not turn over all his presidential records to the government after leaving office.
This decision could lead to a potential clash involving Trump and classified documents, as he was previously indicted for keeping sensitive materials at his Mar-a-Lago home after his first term.“ Constitutionality of the Presidential Records Act
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Catessa Palone
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Chad B. Harness, senior enlisted advisor for SETAF-AF, and Paola Del Din, the first Italian female parachutist to jump into combat.
“My hope is that, even in some small way, others are inspired to do something positive for their country,” said Del Din. “It takes regular people to stand up and fight for what they believe in. That’s what my family did back then, and that’s what we need to ensure a brighter future.”
UPCOMING ELECTIONS!
2026 Election Calendar: Primary and General Election Dates
U.S. Senate: 35 states, Governor: 36 states, U.S. House: 50 states
Tracking U.S. House retirement announcements
Supreme Court limits Voting Rights Act
Always check the deadlines for Overseas Absentee Ballots (UOCAVA) because this is often different from regular stateside absentee ballots.
May 16: Louisiana
May 19: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania.
May 26: Florida–Voters: confirm ballot request is still active. FL can cancel a ballot request up to 90 days before an election if voter doesn’t respond to mailed verification request.
June 2: California including CA-01 and CA-14 Special Congressional Primaries, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota
TAKE ACTION UPDATE
Thank you for contacting your Senators about the SAVE Act! Your help has been successful and U.S. voters’s rights, for the time being, remain intact but we still need your help for the following four issues so please continue to TAKE ACTION. CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at +1 (202) 224-3121. Urge them to pass H.R.14 THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT. The Voting Rights Advancement Act must be passed!
Make it clear that the derogatory comments accompanying the portraits of the honorable past Presidents Biden and Obama must be removed. Urge your members of Congress to restore dignity to all parts of the White House and the U.S. government! White House adds plaques below Biden and Obama portraits, calling them ‘the worst President in American history’ and ‘divisive’
And emphasize that the bill, S.3283 titled Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary is unacceptable. Statement on Senator Moreno’s Unconstitutional Citizenship Proposal. As Martha McDevitt-Pugh, Chair of Democrats Abroad, stated: “Dual citizenship is not a threat - it’s an asset that reflects the reality of an interconnected world where Americans live, work, serve, and advocate for U.S. interests on a global scale. Questioning loyalty because a citizen possesses another passport is not just wrong; it’s an attack on the millions of Americans whose lives span borders and who contribute every day to the strength of the United States...The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that this citizenship cannot be taken away by the government as a punishment or policy choice."
Save Our Forests – Demand Corporate Action Now On March 31, 2026, the Trump administration announced the largest forced purge of a federal land management agency in U.S. history. Contact the companies listed in the saveusfs.org site and demand they publicly oppose the dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service. Visit https://saveusfs.org/#brands for a list of brands, links to their social media sites, and contact info for emails.
MAY EVENTS
National Military Appreciation Month
Month of the Military Caregiver
2026 Military Appreciation Month Discounts
May 1 – Silver Star Service Banner Day
May 1 – Loyalty Day “Today, we salute the Americans whose hard work and sacrifice have strengthened our Nation in common cause…” –Joseph R. Biden, 46th President
May 3 – World Press Freedom Day - 31st Anniversary
May 4-7 –International Federation of Journalists Centenary World Congress Paris
May 2 – VFW National Day of Service
May 4-5 – World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference
“Shaping a Future at Peace” Lusaka, Zambia
May 4-10 – National Correctional Officers Week
May 4-10 – Public Service Recognition Week
May 7 – National Day of Prayer
May 8 – VE Day
May 8 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 12-17 – Armed Forces Week 2025
May 13 – Children of Fallen Patriots Day
May 15 – Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 16 – Louisiana Primary
May 17 – Armed Forces Day
May 18 – International Museum Day
May 19 – Primaries: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania
May 20 – Ramstein AB Passport Outreach Event, KMCC Food Court-9:30am-12pm- appointments available as well as walk-ins
May 22 – Maritime Day
May 23 – Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony at 13:45 (CET)
May 25 – Memorial Day
May 29-31 – Global Annual Meeting of Democrats Abroad Kenya
May 30 – IamExpat Fair get your free ticket! 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Estrel Hotel, Sonnenallee 225 12057 Berlin, free tickets–Registration (Great opportunity to spread the word about DA and register voters!)
Upcoming DA Activities
August 1 – WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 Canal Parade
September 26 – Annual Democrats Abroad OKTOBERFEST, Munich
Plan your Voter Outreach events around the following dates and contact the base VAO offices in your area to volunteer, as private citizens, to help register voters.
June 28 - July 4 – Overseas Citizens Voters Week
August 3-10 – Military Spouse Voters Week
September 28-October 4 – Absentee Voters Week
Retiree Appreciation Days 2026:
• USAG Stuttgart - 1 September 2026
• USAG Bavaria - 4 September 2026
• USAG Rheinland-Pfalz - 10 September 2026
• USAG Italy (Vicenza) 16 September 2026
• USAG BENELUX (Brunssum) - 18 September 2026
• USAG BENELUX (SHAPE) - 19 September 2026
• USAG Ansbach - 23 September 2026
• USAREUR-AF hosted by USAG Wiesbaden - 3 October 2026
SUPPORT DA GERMANY’s GOTV EFFORTS!
Your monetary donations to Democrats Abroad Germany are used to get out the vote among U.S. citizens in Germany.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, a federal law enacted in 1986, ensures U.S. citizens living abroad, including active members of the Armed Forces and their eligible family members, can vote absentee in federal elections. Request your UOCAVA ballot for 2026.