The Pentagon announced on Monday that it will reduce Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly’s military retirement pay as punishment for his role in a video reminding U.S. service members of their right to refuse illegal orders.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the action as a response to the Democrat’s “seditious” statements. He also issued a formal letter of censure against Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, detailing what the secretary called a “pattern of reckless misconduct.”

“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),” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. “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.”

The letter serves as a written reprimand but carries no additional practical effects for Kelly beyond the pay cut.

Hegseth elaborated, “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 added.

Kelly has 30 days to submit a response to the pay reduction decision, Hegseth said, warning that “Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.”

The video, posted on X on November 18, featured Kelly saying, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.”It also included messages from five other Democrats: Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst; Colorado Rep. Jason Crow; New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, a former Navy officer; and Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio, a former Navy officer, and Chrissy Houlahan, a former Air Force officer.

Unlike Kelly, who retired from the Navy and remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the other three veterans in the video separated from their branches without retiring, making them exempt from such military accountability, CNN reported. 

Kelly responded on X, “Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.”

“… Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that,” Kelly added, promising to “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.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the Pentagon’s move in a tweet Monday.

“Mark Kelly is a hero and a patriot committed to serving the American people,” Schumer wrote. “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,” he added.