Mark Kelly Sues War Department Over Demotion, Retirement Pay Cut

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a retired Navy officer, is suing the Conflict Division, in addition to Conflict Secretary Pete Hegseth, over the company’s actions to demote him and reduce his retirement advantages as a result of he urged army service members to “refuse unlawful orders” in a video message with different main Democrats.

A federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., names Hegseth, the Navy, the Division of Protection — now renamed the Conflict Division — and Navy Secretary John Phelan as defendants.

The lawsuit states that the Trump administration’s actions “violate the protections the Structure deems important to the independence of the legislature.”

SEN BLACKBURN FIRES BACK AT DEMOCRATS OVER ‘DISTORTING’ VIDEO AND URGES STATES TO CONTACT ‘ILLEGAL’ ORDERS

Senator Mark Kelly is suing over Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth’s choice to cut back his rank and army pension. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS by way of Getty Photographs; Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

“It seems that at no time in our nation’s historical past has the chief department imposed army sanctions on a member of Congress for partaking in unfavorable political speech,” the lawsuit stated.

The Pentagon’s actions “violate quite a few constitutional ensures and don’t have any authorized foundation,” the lawsuit provides.

Hegseth has sought to cut back Kelly’s retirement rank and army pension amid a feud with the Trump administration, after Kelly joined 5 different Democratic lawmakers in a video in November telling service members they have been required to refuse unlawful orders.

In a letter disapprove of KellyHegseth stated Kelly’s feedback didn’t promote good order and self-discipline. Such a letter usually consists of misconduct figures and can be utilized to justify reductions in rank, wage or advantages. It additionally serves as an official warning that future misconduct may result in extra extreme penalties.

Fox Information Digital has contacted the Conflict Division.

HEGSETH TEARS MARK KELLY’S POST ABOUT HIS SERVICE: ‘YOU CAN’T EVEN DISPLAY YOUR UNIFORM CORRECTLY’

Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks throughout a Cupboard assembly on the White Home, Dec. 2, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

In an announcement to

“Each soldier is aware of {that a} army rank is earned and never given,” he wrote. “It’s earned by the dangers you’re taking, the sacrifices you and your loved ones make, the management you exhibit and the respect you earn from the superiors who suggest you for promotion.”

“Now Pete Hegseth desires our longest-serving army veterans to reside with the fixed risk of being stripped of their rank and pay years and even a long time after they go away the army, simply because he or one other Secretary of Protection does not like what they stated,” he added. “That is not how issues work in the USA of America, and I am unable to assist that.”

KELLY REJECTS TRUMP CHIEF THREAT, SAYS GROUPING IN TONY SOPRANO’S HOME MADE HIM ‘RESILIENT’

Senator Mark Kelly within the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing on March 27 in Washington, DC (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photographs)

On the time of the video wherein Kelly appeared, the Conflict Division stated Kelly’s standing as a sitting U.S. senator “doesn’t exempt him from legal responsibility, and additional violations may lead to additional motion.”

Within the Nov. 18 video, Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Jason Crow of Colorado informed service members and intelligence officers: “Our legal guidelines are clear. You may refuse unlawful orders.”

In December, the Pentagon introduced it could launch a full command investigation into Kelly over allegations of “severe misconduct.”

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President Donald Trump threatened lawmakers with jail time.

“It is known as seditious conduct on the highest degree. Each one in every of these traitors to our nation have to be arrested and dropped at justice. Their phrases can’t stand – we may have no nation anymore!!! An instance MUST be set,” Trump wrote on Reality Social on the time.