Hegseth STRIPS Sen. Mark Kelly’s Pension for 'Seditious' Video

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Pentagon has initiated proceedings to reduce the retired rank of Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., potentially cutting his military retirement pay.

Hegseth, in a statement posted on X, accused the retired Navy captain of "seditious" conduct tied to a November video in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers reminded service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders.

"Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline," Hegseth wrote. "As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice."

The secretary added that the Department of War has issued a formal letter of censure outlining Kelly's "reckless misconduct" and has begun retirement grade determination proceedings that could lower his rank and corresponding pay.

Kelly has 30 days to respond.

"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," Hegseth stated.

"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."

The video followed U.S. military airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, operations whose legality has faced scrutiny for lacking congressional authorization.

WATCH:

"Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders," Kelly stated in the clip.

The other Democrat participants — Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst; Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania — include veterans but separated without retiring, exempting them from UCMJ jurisdiction.

Kelly fired back on X, vowing resistance and blasting Hegseth:

Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, 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.

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," he continued. “Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.

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,” Kelly added. “It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned the move.

"Mark Kelly is a hero and a patriot committed to serving the American people,” Schumer posted on X. "Pete Hegseth is a lap dog committed to serving one man – Donald Trump. This is a despicable act of political retribution. I stand with Sen. Kelly, who will always do the right thing no matter the consequences."

A decorated officer turned politician thinks he can play games with military discipline from the safety of the Senate floor, and Secretary Hegseth just dropped the hammer: rank reduction, pension cut, formal censure — no more free rides for the seditious elite.