Mark Milley Faces Demotion – Hegseth Strips Credentials, Security, and Pentagon Presence, Possible Rank Reduction

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has wasted no time making significant changes at the Pentagon.

According to Politico, the Defense Department announced Tuesday that retired four-star Army General Mark Milley, who previously served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been stripped of both his security clearance and taxpayer-funded security detail.

While these measures diminish Milley's post-service standing, an official demotion in rank could also be on the horizon.

Hegseth, confirmed in a tense Senate vote late Friday, has also launched an inquiry into whether Milley bypassed the chain of command during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Milley previously acknowledged to Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa that, in the final months of the Trump administration, he engaged in discussions with a Chinese military official without informing the former president.

In their book Peril, published in September 2021, Woodward and Costa documented that Milley assured his Chinese counterpart, “We are not going to attack or conduct any kinetic operations against you.”

Milley also stated he would provide a warning in the event of any impending U.S. military action.

Despite publicly confirming and defending these conversations, Trump later labeled the calls as “TREASON” in a Truth Social post.

Hegseth’s probe aims to determine whether Milley violated the chain of command. Within the U.S. government, civilian oversight of the military ensures that the president retains ultimate authority, from enlisted personnel to top-ranking Pentagon officials.

“Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership,” Pentagon Chief of Staff Joe Kasper stated Tuesday, as reported by Politico.

Fox News, citing anonymous administration officials, was the first to report on the pending actions before the official announcement.

Additionally, Fox revealed that Hegseth has ordered the removal of Milley’s second and final portrait from the Pentagon, which recognizes his service as Army chief of staff. The first portrait, commemorating his tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was taken down on Jan. 20, shortly after Trump’s inauguration.

Fox further reported that Hegseth is considering whether Milley should lose a star in retirement, potentially reducing his rank from four-star to three-star general.

The developments have sparked heated debates on social media. While Trump critics have defended Milley, his supporters have argued that these measures are warranted.

Conservative commentator Benny Johnson summarized the situation in a post after listing Hegseth’s actions against Milley:

“Total Humiliation,” he wrote.