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Mark Kelly has retirement pay cut by Pentagon over 'illegal orders video,' Pete Hegseth announces

Hegseth initiated the review that could reduce Kelly’s retired rank and pension.

Mark Kelly has retirement pay cut by Pentagon over 'illegal orders video,' Pete Hegseth announces
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Host credibilityYahoo News74/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026

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Republished from The Independent. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.

The Independent77/100 HIGH

722 stories · 76.9–77.3 · updated Oct 12, 2026

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Yahoo Newsvia The Independent
Jan 6, 2026
tl;dr

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review that could reduce Sen. Mark Kelly’s retired Navy rank and pension over a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders. Kelly says the action targets his protected speech; the review has not determined whether his rank or pay will change.

Community verdict

24 VOTES
How does this story look for
Pete Hegseth R · Secretary of Defense

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 40

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People in this story

SWIPE →
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense who ordered a review of Kelly’s retirement rank and pay

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Arizona senator facing a Pentagon review of his retired Navy rank and pay

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

Senator who participated in the video

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who called for the video’s participants to be arrested and charged with treason

Representative who participated in the video

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Minority Leader who criticized the administration’s operations against Venezuela

ALSO MENTIONED  Gabby Giffords, Former representative and Kelly’s wife; John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy directed to review Kelly’s retired rank and pay; Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan president captured during the administration’s military operation

Part of a bigger story

38 OUTLETS
Hegseth Censures Sen. Mark Kelly Over Troop-Orders Video

Outlets report that Hegseth issued a censure to Sen. Mark Kelly and opened proceedings that could reduce his retired military rank or pay. The action followed Kelly’s participation in a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Left-leaning outlets largely cast the action as punishment for Kelly’s speech and a bid to silence him. Center outlets emphasize the censure and possible consequences while presenting Kelly’s response and, in some reports, legal or political questions. Right-leaning outlets, especially PJ Media, frame the proceedings as accountability for statements they portray as harmful to military discipline.

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