A controversial billboard campaign urging U.S. service members to follow only lawful commands has launched near major military installations in Florida, drawing national attention and sparking debate over the legality of recent military actions ordered by the Trump administration.
The campaign, funded by two nonprofit organizations—Defiance.org and WhistleblowerAid.org—has appeared along major roadways in Tampa and Doral, Florida, including Gandy Boulevard and the Selmon Expressway, routes frequently used by personnel stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, located roughly two miles from one of the billboards.
The billboards carry a direct message to troops: “Obey Only Lawful Orders.” Organizers say the initiative is designed to inform service members of their legal rights and responsibilities under U.S. and international law, particularly in situations where they believe orders may cross legal or ethical boundaries.
According to the groups behind the campaign, the effort is a response to directives from the Trump administration earlier this fall instructing U.S. forces, including those operating out of MacDill, to carry out airstrikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Latin America.
“We’re making sure troops know their rights and that they’re not alone if they’re told to cross the line,” Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff under President Trump and a co-founder of Defiance.org, said in a statement. “The president may be the commander-in-chief, but even he is bound by the law. This campaign is a constitutional alarm bell to remind our servicemembers of that.”
The White House has maintained that the airstrikes were lawful and conducted within the president’s authority as commander-in-chief. However, several Democratic lawmakers have publicly challenged that position, echoing the billboard message through social media and public statements.
Critics argue that because the United States is not officially at war with Venezuela, international human rights law limits the use of lethal force to situations involving an imminent threat to life. They contend that suspected drug-smuggling vessels do not meet that threshold.
“You must refuse illegal orders,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), reinforcing the campaign’s central message.
Beyond the billboards, Defiance.org and WhistleblowerAid.org say they are providing whistleblower hotlines, legal guidance, and access to support organizations for military personnel who have concerns about the legality of orders they receive.
As the campaign expands, it is expected to intensify an already charged national conversation about civilian control of the military, the limits of presidential authority, and the legal obligations of U.S. service members in contested operational environments.
