By Gabriel Ani
WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered administrative action that could demote retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a sitting U.S. senator from Arizona, accusing him of “reckless and seditious” conduct tied to public statements criticizing U.S. military operations.
In a statement released by the Department of War late Monday, Hegseth said the department had initiated retirement grade determination proceedings against Kelly under federal law, a step that could reduce his retired rank and corresponding pension.
“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,” the statement said. “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 department said it has also issued a formal letter of censure to Kelly, which will be placed in his permanent military personnel file. Kelly has 30 days to respond, and the retirement grade determination process is expected to be completed within 45 days.
“Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action,” the statement said.
According to the department, the action is based on Kelly’s public statements made between June and December 2025, in which he allegedly characterized lawful military operations as illegal and encouraged members of the armed forces to refuse unlawful orders. The department said the conduct violated Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which it argues still apply to retired officers receiving pay.
Reuters earlier reported that Hegseth planned to demote Kelly, a former naval aviator and astronaut, over what the Pentagon described as “reckless misconduct.”
Kelly responded forcefully in a statement, accusing the administration of attempting to intimidate retired servicemembers and infringe on free speech. His full response follows:
“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. 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.
If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it. 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.”
Kelly, a Democrat, has been an outspoken critic of recent U.S. military actions and has emphasized the duty of service members to refuse illegal orders, a position long recognized in U.S. and international law.
The dispute is expected to intensify tensions between the Pentagon and congressional Democrats, raising novel constitutional and legal questions about the limits of military authority over retired officers who hold elected office.
