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Pentagon Censures Sen. Mark Kelly Over Video Urging Troops to Defy Illegal Orders

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated proceedings to reduce Sen. Mark Kelly's retirement rank and pay citing seditious statements in a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders.

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday issued a formal letter of censure and began retirement grade proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370 against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
  • In November, Kelly joined five other lawmakers—Slotkin, Crow, Deluzio, Goodlander, and Houlahan—in a 90-second video first posted from Slotkin's X account urging troops to refuse illegal orders.
  • Hegseth said the department cited Articles 133 and 134 of the UCMJ, describing Kelly's video as reckless and seditious, and stated `Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action`.
  • Kelly has thirty days to respond to the notice, with Secretary John Phelan directed to complete the forty five-day review, potentially reducing Kelly's retired rank and pay and placing a censure in his permanent military personnel file.
  • Amid growing partisan tensions, legal challenges and congressional scrutiny are expected over military authority, civilian oversight, and political speech, after President Donald Trump accused lawmakers of sedition.
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Hegseth seeks to reduce Sen. Kelly's Navy retirement pay

Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include a comment from the White House.

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Just the News broke the news in Washington, United States on Monday, January 5, 2026.
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