Morgan Luttrell

Morgan Luttrell
Born	Morgan Joe Luttrell 7 11, 1975
Birthplace	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman, military veteran
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 8th congressional district
Education	Sam Houston State University (BS) University of Texas at Dallas (MS)
Spouse(s)	Leslie Luttrell
Children	2
Website	[[luttrell.house.gov luttrell.house.gov] Official site]

Morgan Joe Luttrell (born November 7, 1975) is an American politician, businessman, and military veteran who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 8th congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Luttrell succeeded longtime congressman Kevin Brady, who retired after serving the district for over two decades. Before entering politics, Luttrell served as a Navy SEAL for fourteen years, reaching the rank of lieutenant, and later worked in the private sector and as an adviser to former Texas Governor Rick Perry. He is the twin brother of Marcus Luttrell, the former Navy SEAL and author of Lone Survivor. In Congress, Luttrell has focused on veterans' issues, serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. On September 11, 2025, Luttrell announced he would not seek a third term in Congress, stating his intention to retire at the end of his second term in January 2027.

Early Life

Morgan Joe Luttrell was born on November 7, 1975, in Houston, Texas. He has a twin brother, Marcus Luttrell, who would later gain national prominence as the author of Lone Survivor, a memoir recounting his experiences during a 2005 ambush in Afghanistan in which he was the sole survivor of a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team. The Luttrell brothers grew up in the Houston area and both pursued careers in the United States military, entering the Navy SEAL program.

Luttrell has spoken publicly about the impact that his military service had on him, including a traumatic brain injury he sustained during his time as a SEAL. His experience with brain injury and subsequent recovery became a significant part of his personal story and later informed his interest in veterans' health policy and advocacy for innovative treatments for service-related conditions.

Education

Luttrell attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. The university later recognized his achievements, naming him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2011. After completing his military career, Luttrell pursued further education, earning a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. His graduate studies complemented his post-military career transition into the private sector and public policy work.

Career

Military Service

Luttrell served in the United States Navy from 2000 to 2014, a fourteen-year career during which he qualified as a Navy SEAL and rose to the rank of lieutenant. As a SEAL, Luttrell was involved in special operations activities. During his service, he sustained a traumatic brain injury, an experience that would later shape his advocacy for veterans' health care and his interest in emerging medical treatments for brain injuries.

Luttrell retired from the Navy in 2014 after completing his military service. His tenure as a SEAL, combined with his brother Marcus Luttrell's fame from the Lone Survivor story, gave Morgan Luttrell a public profile connected to military service and the SEAL community.

Post-Military Career and Business

Following his retirement from the military, Luttrell transitioned into the private sector and public policy. He served as an adviser to former Texas Governor Rick Perry, developing experience in government operations and policy.

In 2020, Luttrell co-founded an eco-friendly signage company, drawing attention as a Navy SEAL veteran entering the environmentally conscious business space. His business activities, alongside his government advisory role, established a post-military career that combined private enterprise with public service.

2022 Congressional Campaign

In June 2021, Luttrell filed to run for the open seat in Texas's 8th congressional district, which became available after the announcement that longtime Republican incumbent Kevin Brady would not seek reelection. The 8th district, which encompasses portions of the Houston metropolitan area including parts of Montgomery County and surrounding communities, is a heavily Republican district.

Luttrell ran on a platform emphasizing his military background, veterans' issues, and conservative values. During the primary campaign, he discussed priorities including border security, energy policy, and support for the military and law enforcement. His candidacy was described as that of a "long-time Rick Perry ally," reflecting his connections within the Texas Republican establishment.

Luttrell won the Republican primary election in March 2022, securing the party's nomination for the district. Given the heavily Republican composition of the district, winning the primary was tantamount to winning the general election. In the November 2022 general election, Luttrell won the seat by a substantial margin.

U.S. House of Representatives

First Term (2023–2025)

Luttrell was sworn into office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Kevin Brady as the representative for Texas's 8th congressional district. During the opening of the 118th United States Congress, Luttrell was among the new members who participated in the protracted speaker election, which required multiple ballots before Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House.

In the House, Luttrell was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he took on a leadership role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. In this capacity, Luttrell led hearings focused on modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation benefits structure for veterans.

One of Luttrell's notable legislative efforts involved advocacy for psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Drawing on his own experience with a service-related brain injury, Luttrell pushed for amendments that would allow research and potential use of psychedelic compounds in treating veterans. This issue gained broader attention as part of a growing national conversation about alternative therapeutic approaches, including efforts by officials in other cities and states to explore psychedelic-assisted treatments.

Second Term (2025–2027)

Luttrell won reelection in the March 2024 Republican primary, again facing little difficulty in the heavily Republican district. He continued to serve in the 119th United States Congress, maintaining his focus on veterans' affairs and government spending issues.

During his second term, Luttrell continued his work on the Veterans' Affairs subcommittee, holding additional hearings on modernizing VA disability compensation benefits. He also engaged with fiscal policy matters, commending House Republicans for what he described as restoring regular order in government funding through appropriations bills, and highlighted provisions related to military funding that he said would benefit Texas.

Announcement of Retirement

On September 11, 2025, Luttrell announced that he would not seek a third term in Congress, making him the 26th member of the U.S. House of Representatives to announce they would not seek reelection in the 2026 cycle. The announcement was reported by multiple Texas and national news outlets. Luttrell indicated his intention to retire from Congress at the end of his second term in January 2027, leaving the door open for future endeavors outside of the House.

Following his announcement, multiple Republican candidates announced their intention to seek the party's nomination for the open seat in Texas's 8th congressional district.

Personal Life

Luttrell is married to his wife Leslie, and the couple have two children. He resides in the Houston metropolitan area within the boundaries of Texas's 8th congressional district.

His twin brother, Marcus Luttrell, is a retired Navy SEAL who became a nationally known figure following the publication of his 2007 book Lone Survivor and the subsequent 2013 film adaptation. Both brothers served as Navy SEALs, and their shared military background has been a recurring element in Morgan Luttrell's public identity.

Luttrell has been open about his experience with a traumatic brain injury sustained during his military service and has used his personal experience to advocate for improved health care and treatment options for veterans dealing with similar conditions.

Recognition

In 2011, Sam Houston State University honored Luttrell as a Distinguished Alumnus through the university's Office of Alumni Relations, recognizing his military service and post-military achievements.

Luttrell was endorsed by the Main Street Republican PAC during his congressional campaigns, reflecting support from the center-right wing of the Republican Party.

His work in Congress on veterans' issues, particularly as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, brought attention to efforts to modernize the VA disability compensation system and to explore innovative treatments, including psychedelic-assisted therapy, for service-related injuries.