Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth has announced that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) will receive a formal letter of reprimand. Hegseth has also directed Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to evaluate Kelly’s retirement rank and pay, with a recommendation expected within 45 days. This move comes amid allegations that Kelly made “inflammatory statements” that could potentially harm military operations.
“About six weeks ago, Sen. Kelly and five other congressional members released a troubling and inflammatory video, which seems designed to disrupt military discipline and order,” Hegseth remarked in a statement. He emphasized that as a retired Navy colonel still receiving military benefits, Kelly has obligations toward military justice, and the Army and American public expect accountability.
If Kelly’s rank is reviewed, it’s possible he could face a demotion, affecting his retirement benefits as well. Moreover, a letter of censure will be issued to detail what Hegseth describes as “reckless and illegal conduct” on Kelly’s part.
Such formal letters usually highlight instances of misconduct and can lead to rank, pay, or benefits being reduced, additionally serving as a warning of potential future repercussions for misbehavior.
Hegseth clarified that this process is essential and will be documented in Kelly’s permanent military record. The department pointed out that being a sitting senator does not excuse Kelly from accountability, cautioning that further violations may lead to additional actions.
Hegseth has noted that Kelly has been informed about the reasons behind these actions and is required to submit a response within 30 days. The actions being taken stem from public statements Kelly made between June and December 2025, in which he described legitimate military operations as illegal and urged military personnel to disregard lawful orders.
This follows a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Kelly, with prior military and intelligence experience. They released a video reminding military and intelligence personnel that “Our laws are clear. We can refuse illegal orders.” However, no context was provided in the video, which was entitled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” framing the message as a caution against following unlawful directives.
