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Defense Department to reduce Sen. Mark Kelly's retirement pay over criticism

Kelly says he will challenge proceedings that could reduce his military retirement pay.

Defense Department to reduce Sen. Mark Kelly's retirement pay over criticism
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityYahoo News74/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026

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Republished with credit

Republished from United Press International, with credit to the original publisher.

129 stories · 88–89 · updated Oct 12, 2026

This is United Press International's own score, and this article is credited to United Press International. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia United Press International
Jan 5, 2026
tl;dr

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is pursuing action that could reduce Sen. Mark Kelly’s retirement pay over comments Kelly made about refusing illegal orders. Kelly called the move an attempt to intimidate him and said he intends to fight it.

Community verdict

22 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mark Kelly D · AZ · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 43

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Votes cast on this page

Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

SWIPE →
Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Arizona senator facing Defense Department administrative proceedings over his public comments

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense who announced administrative action against Kelly

Hegseth's version of this story ↗
Elissa Slotkin
D · MI · SEN

Senator who appeared in the video

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President criticized by Kelly in his response

Representative who appeared in the video

Representative who appeared in the video

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate minority leader who criticized the action against Kelly

Part of a bigger story

40 OUTLETS
Hegseth Censures Mark Kelly and Seeks Potential Rank Reduction

Hegseth censured Kelly and began proceedings that could reduce his retired military rank and pay after Kelly joined a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Left-leaning outlets frame the possible rank and pay reductions as punishment for Kelly’s speech. Center outlets largely recount the censure and possible consequences alongside Kelly’s objections and legal questions. Right-leaning outlets more often present the action as accountability for Kelly’s call to refuse orders, though some report the dispute descriptively.

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