Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has informed former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley that his security clearance and protective detail are being revoked. Additionally, a review of Milley’s conduct has been initiated to assess whether his military rank should be reconsidered, according to a statement from the Pentagon, reports NBC News.
On his first official day in office, Hegseth directed the Department of Defense’s inspector general to investigate the circumstances surrounding Milley’s actions. Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot stated that this review will help determine if reopening Milley’s military grade assessment is warranted.
The statement did not specify the reasons behind these actions. However, Defense Department Chief of Staff Joe Kasper emphasized the importance of maintaining the chain of command, stating that any efforts to undermine it threaten national security. He further noted that restoring accountability remains a top priority under President Trump’s administration.
Milley has not yet issued a public response to the review. He previously served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. During Trump’s first term, Milley found himself in disagreement with the administration on several occasions.
In 2020, Milley publicly apologized for accompanying Trump to a widely criticized photo-op near the White House, which followed the forceful removal of protesters demonstrating during the Black Lives Matter after the death of George Floyd.
Additionally, toward the end of Trump’s presidency, Milley made direct contact with China’s military leadership, assuring them that the United States had no plans for military aggression. These communications followed intelligence reports suggesting that China feared a potential U.S. attack.
🚨SecDef Pete Hegseth has stripped Gen. Mark Milley’s security detail and security clearance
He may also be getting demoted
This is what he gets for committing Treason pic.twitter.com/IlpOGMWzyQ
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 28, 2025
Milley was also a key figure in the horrendously botched U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan under Biden’s leadership. He and other senior military officials later testified that they had advised the president to maintain a small troop presence beyond the withdrawal deadline.
Hours before Trump’s recent inauguration, Milley was included in a series of preemptive pardons issued by Biden. According to Biden, this measure was intended to shield Milley from political retribution under the new administration.
Last week, a portrait of Milley was removed from the Pentagon’s walls. Additionally, his portrait as Army Chief of Staff was taken down, with the wall patched and repainted.
Milley has also faced allegations of treason due to his communications with China, where he reportedly assured Chinese officials that he would provide advance warning of any U.S. military action. This revelation, detailed in the book “Peril” by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, has led Trump and his allies to condemn Milley’s actions as a betrayal of national security.