Trump administration censures former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video
The Department of Defense is taking administrative action against former NASA astronaut and current U.S. Senator Mark Kelly over remarks he made in a 90-second video in November.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 1, 2025. Kelly held the event to address what he described as intimidating actions by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, following a video in which Kelly and several other lawmakers urged U.S. troops to refuse “illegal orders.” (Image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Trump administration is following through on its threats against former NASA astronaut and current U.S. Senator Mark Kelly.
In late November, Kelly (D-Ariz.) and five other Congressmen who have served in the military participated in a 90-second video reminding U.S. servicemembers not to obey illegal orders. President Donald Trump deemed the video seditious, saying that such behavior is "punishable by DEATH!"
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…January 5, 2026
"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 wrote via X on Monday.
"To ensure this action, the Secretary of War has also issued a formal Letter of Censure, which outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly's reckless misconduct. This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly's official and permanent military personnel file."
(Hegseth and other military leaders use the terms "Department of War" and "Secretary of War" in accordance with an executive order that Trump issued in September. But "Department of Defense" and "Secretary of Defense" remain the official names.)
Kelly has been notified of the action and has 30 days to submit a response, according to Hegseth. The "retirement grade determination process" will be complete within 45 days, the secretary added.
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