Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly and five Democratic members of Congress released a video that encouraged service members to refuse to follow the orders of their superior officers. It is hard to imagine a more irresponsible action by elected public officials, especially given the fact that, when asked, none of these Democrats could name a single order issued under the Trump administration that was illegal.
Today Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced proceedings that will sanction Kelly, who is receiving a pension as a retired naval officer and is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, for his part in the video. The sanction will be a change to Kelly’s retirement grade and consequent reduction of his 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. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) January 5, 2026
The full text:
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. 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.
Therefore, in response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements — and his pattern of reckless misconduct — the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret). The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.
To ensure this action, the Secretary of War has also issued a formal Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct. This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file.
Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response. The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five 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.
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. 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.
“Seditious” is a strong word, but I think appropriate here. The Democrats have never accepted the fact that Donald Trump won the election and is, in fact, our president. They have done everything in their power to frustrate his policies at every turn. Advising service members to disobey orders is fully consistent with their refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the present administration. And the Democrats act with impunity: they believe that, regardless of what voters may do, they are entitled to exercise power and they can never be held to account. Kudos to Secretary Hegseth and the Trump administration for calling them out.
