New Dems Demand Answers After Pentagon Removes Fallen Service Members from Official Iran War Casualty List
Today, New Dem Reps. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Pat Ryan (NY-18) led 47 New Dem Members in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon removed the names of four fallen U.S. service members from the official casualty list for Operation Epic Fury. The Members call on the Department of Defense (DoD) to immediately restore the names and explain why they were removed from the official accounting of Americans killed during the war with Iran.
According to public reporting, the Pentagon reduced the official casualty count from 18 to 14 by removing the names of four service members killed between July 17 and July 19, despite the DoD’s own reporting linking their deaths to Iranian aggression. The conflicting explanations provided by DoD officials have only raised additional questions and deepened concerns about transparency, accountability, and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The letter reads in part:
“This is unacceptable. We demand an immediate explanation to the change and a correction to the list of casualties on the DoD’s website to reflect the four names that were removed. Our fallen soldiers gave their lives while serving their country in a war that Congress never authorized and that both the House and Senate have voted to end. Their sacrifice cannot be erased or diminished. The Department must restore their names to the list without delay.”
New Dems have consistently championed strong congressional oversight, transparency, and accountability in matters of national security while honoring the service and sacrifice of America's servicemembers. New Dem Chair Brad Schneider previously released a statement honoring the memories of the four fallen servicemembers – 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton – following the initial reports.
You can read the full letter here, and below:
Secretary Hegseth,
We, the undersigned members of the New Democrat Coalition, write regarding recent reports that the Pentagon removed the names of four fallen U.S. service members from the official casualty list for Operation Epic Fury – an indefensible decision that dishonors their service and diminishes their sacrifice. We demand an immediate explanation and reversal.
On July 22, 2026, the Defense Casualty Analysis System listed 18 American service members who had died during the conflict with Iran. The following day, the Department of Defense (DoD), reduced that number to 14, excluding four soldiers killed between July 17 and July 19. According to reporting by the New York Times and multiple other sources, three military officials stated that the change was made because these deaths occurred after the alleged cease-fire that had been declared in April. The Pentagon acting press secretary blamed the change on “temporary data disruptions.” These contradictory explanations demand an immediate clarification.
The four service members who were removed from the list are 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton. The DoD’s own public reporting states their deaths were connected to Iranian aggression. In addition, you, President Trump, and senior military leaders attended the dignified transfer of their remains at Dover Air Force Base on July 22.
Yet, these four brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice were removed from the Pentagon’s official accounting of casualties. This is unacceptable. We demand an immediate explanation to the change and a correction to the list of casualties on the DoD’s website to reflect the four names that were removed. Our fallen soldiers gave their lives while serving their country in a war that Congress never authorized and that both the House and Senate have voted to end. Their sacrifice cannot be erased or diminished. The Department must restore their names to the list without delay.
Previous Article