Pentagon to cut Mark Kelly’s military pension over 'Seditious Six' video

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that the Pentagon is taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy Captain, for his role in a late 2025 video in which he and other lawmakers, dubbed the "Seditious Six," called for active duty troops to "refuse illegal orders." Hegseth said that the Pentagon has initiated "retirement grade determination proceedings," with a reduction in grade resulting in a reduction in retired pay.

Hegseth said, "Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice."

He continued, "Therefore, in response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements — and his pattern of reckless misconduct — the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret). The department has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings under 10 U.S.C. § 1370(f), with reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay."

Hegseth said that he has also issued a formal Letter of Censure that will be placed in Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file, and said that the letter was a "necessary process step" that " outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct."

"Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response. The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty-five days," the statement continued. "Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action."

He said that the move was based on Kelly’s public statements between June and December 2025 "in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders. This conduct was seditious in nature and violated Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to which Captain Kelly remains subject as a retired officer receiving pay."