The Pentagon has moved to reduce the military retirement pay of Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, after he participated in a video urging U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders.
The decision was announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the action followed what he described as misconduct tied to the video involving Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers.
The measure includes a reduction in Kelly’s retired grade, which directly lowers his pension, along with a formal letter of censure placed in his military record.
Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona and a former astronaut, could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Pentagon said the action is administrative in nature and does not affect Kelly’s current role as an elected official.
Hegseth said the department initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under federal law, resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.
He characterized Kelly’s conduct as “reckless misconduct” and said further measures could be considered depending on future actions.
The letter of censure serves as a written reprimand but carries no immediate practical consequences beyond the pay reduction.
Behind the scenes, the Defense Department had weighed options ranging from demotion to potential prosecution under military law.
Those more severe steps were ultimately not pursued at this stage, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
The video that prompted the action featured six Democratic lawmakers warning of threats to the Constitution and urging military and intelligence personnel to reject illegal orders.
The video did not specify which orders might be unlawful, but it circulated amid broader debate over recent military operations and deployments.
Kelly and other participants have defended the message as a restatement of existing legal obligations for service members.
Some lawmakers from both parties have questioned whether punishing a retired officer for political speech is appropriate.
Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he did not believe it was appropriate for the military to punish Kelly.
President Donald Trump and Hegseth have both accused Kelly and the other lawmakers of seditious behavior, though no criminal charges have been filed.
The Pentagon has said the current action stops short of recalling Kelly to active duty for prosecution.