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Judge blocks Pentagon from downgrading Sen. Mark Kelly's military rank, pay

Hegseth pursued proceedings that could reduce Kelly’s retired rank and pay and announced an appeal after the judge blocked them.

Judge blocks Pentagon from downgrading Sen. Mark Kelly's military rank, pay
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Outlet credibilityCBS News83/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
CBS News
Feb 12, 2026
tl;dr

A federal judge blocked the Pentagon from reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s retired military rank and pay, finding the administration had violated his First Amendment freedoms. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the ruling would be appealed.

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12 VOTES
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Pete Hegseth R · Secretary of Defense

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 27

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  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: 50% good look
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
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Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

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SWIPE →
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Defense secretary who pursued proceedings against Kelly and said he would appeal the ruling

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Senator whose retired military rank and pay the Pentagon sought to reduce

Kelly's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration criticized the lawmakers’ video

ALSO MENTIONED  Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney whose office pursued an indictment against Kelly and the other lawmakers; Richard Leon, U.S. district judge who issued the order blocking action against Kelly

Part of a bigger story

21 OUTLETS
Judge Blocks Pentagon Action Against Sen. Mark Kelly

A federal judge blocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to punish Sen. Mark Kelly. Left-leaning outlets frame the ruling as protecting Kelly’s First Amendment rights from retaliation; one also reports Hegseth’s planned appeal and his characterization of Kelly’s conduct as sedition.

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