Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, announced that the Pentagon is taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly. On Monday, 5 January 2026, the secretary stated that the Department of Defense has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings aimed at reducing the senator's retirement pay as a retired Navy captain.
The decision to reduce Kelly's retirement payout was spearheaded by Hegseth, who explained that the move is a formal punishment for the Democrat senator's participation in a public service video regarding the duty of service members. He said the video was intended to 'undermine good order and military discipline.' President Donald Trump had previously called the lawmakers' message 'seditious behavior.'
