U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the start of proceedings to demote the military rank of Mark Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona and retired Navy captain, after President Donald Trump accused him of sedition for urging soldiers to disobey “illegal orders.”

Hegseth reported that the Pentagon initiated so-called “retirement grade determination” proceedings, an administrative measure that could reduce the rank at which Kelly retired and, consequently, his retirement pay. Furthermore, the Pentagon chief issued a formal letter of censure, which, he explained, will be permanently added to the senator's military record.

“This censure is a necessary step in the process,” Hegseth wrote on the social network X, where he accused Kelly of “reckless conduct” that, in his view, undermined the chain of command and created confusion among members of the Armed Forces. The decision avoids a court-martial, which would have subjected the legislator to a military tribunal.

Mark Kelly denounces political retaliation

Kelly reacted strongly and called the measure an attempt at political intimidation. He asserted that Hegseth and President Donald Trump are trying to send a warning message to the military: “Anyone who criticizes the administration will be persecuted.” “It’s outrageous and wrong. There’s nothing more un-American than that,” declared the senator, who vowed to fight the decision “with everything I have,” not only for himself, but for the freedom of expression of Americans, he affirmed. The senator was formally notified and will have 30 days to respond. The process, according to Hegseth, should conclude within 45 days. In a letter addressed to Kelly, the Secretary of Defense emphasized that, despite his position as a sitting senator, the former officer remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and warned that further conduct could result in additional sanctions. The conflict stems from a video published in November,In the video, Kelly, along with five other Democratic lawmakers with combat or intelligence experience, reminded the soldiers that their oath is to the Constitution and that they have the right—and the duty—to refuse orders that violate the law. Although the video did not mention specific actions, it was released at a time of heightened tension over the Trump administration's policies regarding the use of troops on domestic soil and operations abroad. The video provoked a strong reaction from the president and Republican lawmakers, who accused the participants of "seditious conduct." In contrast, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended Kelly as a "hero and patriot" and called the Pentagon's offensive a "despicable act of political retaliation." Kelly served in the Navy from 1987 to 2011, was deployed to the Persian Gulf, and graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School. Today, his case has become a new front in the clash between the White House and the Democratic opposition, with implications that go far beyond his military career.