Pete Hegseth is taking action to revoke a Democratic senator’s military rank and pension following the release of a controversial video urging troops to defy orders.

The Secretary of War issued a statement saying that six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly, along with five other Congressional members, released a video deemed reckless and seditious, aimed at disrupting military order and discipline.

In response to Senator Kelly’s statements and his ongoing pattern of irresponsible behavior, the Department of War is initiating administrative measures, the statement explained.

The Pentagon’s chief has sent a formal reprimand to Kelly, alerting him to an upcoming review of his military rank and retirement benefits, a step deemed necessary for disciplining the senator, as outlined in the letter.

Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a Democrat, former Navy captain, and astronaut, encouraged active-duty personnel to reject what he described as ‘illegal orders,’ referencing his own military background.

‘Our laws are explicit. You have the right to refuse illegal orders,’ declared Kelly and several other Democratic legislators in a video released in November.

All six of the Democrats in the video touted their own military or intelligence backgrounds, though they did not specify which illegal orders were given or if President Donald Trump or Hegseth were engaged in unlawful activity. 

Kelly has 30 days to respond to the censure letter, and a full review of his standing with the military will be completed in 45 days. 

Mark Kelly made a video with other Democratic lawmakers where he called on soldiers to ignore illegal orders from President Trump. Now the Pentagon is reviewing his rank and pay

Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth have called the Democrats who released the video ‘seditious’ and floated potential consequences. The President even suggested sedition could be punishable by hanging

‘These actions are based on Captain Kelly’s public statements from June through December 2025 in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders,’ Hegseth states. 

Since he is retired and still receiving payment from the military, the Arizona senator is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the letter claims. 

It also cheekily refers to Kelly as ‘Captain (for now).’

‘If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it,’ Kelly said in a statement on Monday. 

‘ I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.’

His actions, and those of the other Democrats in the video, enraged the President. 

Trump issued a statement on Truth Social at the time, calling their actions ‘seditious’ and ‘treason,’ while demanding they be executed via hanging. 

‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!’ before reposting another them that stated, ‘HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!’

Hegseth noted in November that the other five Democrats will not be investigated because they do not fall under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction.

The others include Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, an ex-CIA analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq; Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger; Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former Navy reservist; and Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former Air Force officer.

‘Mark Kelly is a hero and a patriot committed to serving the American people,’ Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in response to the announcement. 

‘Pete Hegseth is a lap dog committed to serving one man – Donald Trump. This is a despicable act of political retribution. I stand with Sen. Kelly, who will always do the right thing no matter the consequences.’ 

Kelly’s Senate office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.