Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Mark Kelly and cut pension over video on illegal orders

Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that the Pentagon had begun a process to demote Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and cut his retirement pay over a video in which Kelly, a retired Navy captain, called on service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

In a post on X, Hegseth said he had issued a letter of censure to Kelly, who served in the Navy until 2011. 

The Pentagon, Hegseth’s post said, “has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings” that could result in a “reduction in his retired grade” and “a corresponding reduction in retired pay.”

“Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response,” the post said. “The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.”

Hegseth said that he had “issued a formal Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct.”

“This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file,” Hegseth added. 

The Pentagon announced in November that it was conducting a review of misconduct allegations against Kelly to determine whether he should be recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings.

On Monday, Hegseth called the video “seditious,” adding that it was “clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline.”

“As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice,” Hegseth said.

Kelly was one of six Democratic lawmakers who released a video in November urging service members and members of the intelligence community to defy “illegal orders,” citing threats to the Constitution. The group, who are all veterans or former national security officials, included Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and House members Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.