Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday the Pentagon has launched administrative proceedings that could lower Sen. Mark Kelly’s retired Navy grade and reduce his military pension, accusing the Arizona Democrat of “seditious” conduct tied to public comments about the armed forces.
In the post, Hegseth said the department initiated a retirement grade determination under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f) and issued a formal letter of censure that will be placed in Kelly’s permanent military personnel file. Hegseth said Kelly has 30 days to respond and that the review process will be completed within 45 days.
Hegseth linked the action to what he described as Kelly’s public statements from June through December 2025, including a video he said undermined discipline by encouraging service members to refuse lawful orders. He cited alleged violations of Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, arguing retired officers receiving pay remain subject to military justice.
Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, said the move amounts to retaliation for protected speech and a warning to other retired service members. He said he would fight the censure and any effort to demote him, calling it an attempt to intimidate critics of the Trump administration.
