Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce the immediate removal of retired Gen. Mark Milley’s personal security detail and security clearance, according to multiple senior administration officials. The decision comes as the Department of Defense initiates a broader review of Milley’s actions during President Donald Trump’s first term, including an investigation into whether he should be stripped of a star in retirement.
Hegseth has directed the acting Inspector General to convene a review board to examine whether Milley’s conduct while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff constituted an effort to “undermine the chain of command.” Officials say this could lead to a reduction in Milley’s rank in retirement, though no final determination has been made.
Additionally, the Pentagon is in the process of removing Milley’s second portrait from the Army’s Marshall Corridor on the third floor, where he was honored for his service as chief of staff of the Army from 2015 to 2019. This follows the removal of his first portrait last week, which was taken down within hours of Trump’s inauguration. With these actions, there will no longer be any portraits of Milley inside the Pentagon.
Milley, who retired in 2023, had been assigned a security detail along with other former senior Trump administration officials following threats from Iran in response to the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The decision to withdraw protection for Milley and others has been met with some concern from lawmakers, including Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, who urged Trump to reconsider removing security for John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook, all of whom also served in key national security roles during Trump’s first term.
🚨MASSIVE BREAKING:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has REVOKED General Mark Milley’s security detail and security clearance.
Hegseth is now planning on DEMOTING the General.
Hegseth also ordered the removal of all Pentagon portraits of Milley.
Total Humiliation pic.twitter.com/ZtKpzyw2n9
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 28, 2025
When asked about the reasoning behind these actions, a senior administration official described them as part of a broader effort to hold officials accountable. “There is a new era of accountability in the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership—and that’s exactly what the American people expect,” the official said.
Milley served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023, advising both Presidents Trump and Biden. His tenure was marked by controversy, particularly surrounding his communications with foreign officials and his statements about Trump. In Bob Woodward’s book War, Milley reportedly told Woodward at a 2023 reception that he believed Trump was “fascist to the core.” Milley also allegedly expressed concerns about Trump’s mental stability and his control over nuclear weapons in earlier discussions with Woodward.
Before leaving office, President Joe Biden granted Milley a pardon, though the specific details of the pardon were not widely disclosed.
Milley also drew attention for his reported contact with China’s top military official during the final months of Trump’s first term. According to the book Peril by Woodward and Robert Costa, Milley reassured his Chinese counterpart that the U.S. had no plans to launch a military strike against China. Supporters of Milley have argued that these calls were necessary to prevent international tensions from escalating, while critics have claimed they were inappropriate and undermined the authority of the sitting president.
Despite past praise from Trump—such as following the U.S. military’s successful raid that killed the leader of ISIS in 2019—Milley’s relationship with the former president deteriorated over time. The ongoing review of his conduct suggests that his legacy within the Pentagon remains a point of contention.
