Defense Sec. Hegseth Cuts Former Gen. Mark Milley’s Security Detail Despite Threats From Iran

On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed the security clearance of retired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, cutting his security detail despite threats on his life by Iran. Hegseth also directed the Pentagon inspector general to review his actions during his time as the United State’s highest uniformed officer, aiming to demote him.

Hegseth’s plan to review Milley’s actions to “undermine the chain of command during President Donald Trump’s first term ” was removed Tuesday evening. A portrait of Milley honoring his service as former chief of staff of the Army and another commemorating his time as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman had also been removed after Trump took office.

In the final days of Trump’s first term, Milley told Chinese officials that the instability on Jan. 6 did not threaten China.

A preemptive pardon issued by former President Joe Biden on Jan. 20, one of his last acts as president, makes it difficult for the Trump Administration to hit Milley with criminal charges. However, any finding from the Pentagon’s investigation could prompt a decision to reduce his rank.

“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,” said Hegseth’s Chief of Staff Joe Kasper.

Milley has publically criticized Trump in recent years, calling him a “fascist to the core.” In the days before Milley’s retirement, Trump suggested that Milley had committed treason and should be put to death.

During week one of his second term, Trump decided to end protective security details for his former national security adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other officials. Milley was also assigned security details in 2020 after Iran threatened revenge for the Trump-ordered drone strike that killed an Iranian military officer.

At the ceremony marking his retirement in 2023, Milley reminded troops that they took an oath to the Constitution and not to a “a king, or a queen, or to a tyrant or dictator, and we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.”