...
By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said his department is taking "administrative action" against Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, including a reduction in his retirement rank and pay and formal censure, after a Pentagon investigation into the retired naval captain's allegedly "seditious" comments.
In a statement, Kelly said "I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution" and accused Hegseth and President Donald Trump, both Republicans, of trying to intimidate retired servicemembers to deter criticism of the administration. He called Hegseth's actions "outrageous" and "un-American".
Kelly was one of several Democratic lawmakers who served in the military or intelligence and took part in a video telling serving personnel they do not have to obey unlawful orders, prompting a fierce backlash from Trump. The video came amid questions about the legality of the U.S. military's lethal strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Read More on Politics
Hegseth's move is part of a pattern of retributive actions by Trump administration officials against their political enemies while they hold the heavy tools of government power—as they accused the Democrats of doing to them before.
...
Hegseth said the department has "initiated retirement grade determination proceedings" that would reduce Kelly's military pension payments and that he has also issued a "formal Letter of Censure" for the Arizona Democrat's "reckless misconduct".
"Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action," Hegseth said in a statement posted to X.
"These actions are based on Captain Kelly's public statements from June through December 2025 in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders.
"This conduct was seditious in nature and violated Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to which Captain Kelly remains subject as a retired officer receiving pay."
...
In his statement, Kelly said he had served for over 25 years in the U.S. Navy, including 39 combat missions and four missions to space as an astronaut, where "I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution — including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out."
"I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that," Kelly continued.
“My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head — all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder.
"Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.
“Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that."
Kelly added that he would not be intimidated and "I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.”
Updated, 1/5/26, 12:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement by Mark Kelly and more information.
The news cycle is loud. Algorithms push us to extremes. In the middle—where facts, ideas and progress live—there's a void. At Newsweek, we fill it with fearless, fair and fiercely independent journalism.
Common ground isn't just possible—it's essential. Our readers reflect America's diversity, united by a desire for thoughtful, unbiased news. Independent ratings confirm our approach: NewsGuard gives us 100/100 for reliability, and AllSides places us firmly in the political center.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. Ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy:
Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines