WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Respect the Chief Act following reported failures to display portraits of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on chain-of-command boards at U.S. military bases. This legislation would formalize a long-standing custom by requiring military bases to update chain-of-command boards to reflect leadership changes.

“The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief, and chain-of-command boards at America’s military bases should reflect current leadership,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Respect the Chief Act would ensure military bases continue this longstanding tradition and prevent leftists from disrespecting the chain of command.”

BACKGROUND

• In April, the U.S. Army suspended the commander of Fort McCoy, Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, after the base failed to update its chain-of-command board to display photos of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

• This incident highlighted how there are no federal statutes or formal service-wide regulations governing the requirement, content, or oversight of Command Boards, except within the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Instead, the practice remains largely a matter of custom, grounded in military tradition and shaped indirectly by service regulations on chain of command and protocol.

THE RESPECT THE CHIEF ACT

The Respect the Chief Act would require the separate military branches within the U.S. Department of War to submit reports to the executive branch to certify that all chain-of-command boards have been updated to reflect the current Commander-in-Chief and other leadership changes.

Click here for bill text.