The Trump administration isn’t wasting any time restoring order in the Pentagon. In a bold move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has revoked the security clearance and personal security detail of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday.
The decision marks a significant step in holding former military leaders accountable for actions taken during Trump’s first term—especially those who worked against the chain of command. But that’s not all. Hegseth has also directed an internal investigation to determine whether Milley should be stripped of a star in retirement.
John Ullyot, the Pentagon’s new spokesman, confirmed the move, stating, “The Secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well.”
Milley, who retired from the Army in September 2023, had continued receiving protection due to threats from Iran. The threats stem from his role in the 2020 drone strike, ordered by President Trump, that eliminated Iranian terror mastermind Qasem Soleimani. However, Trump has now ordered an end to this special treatment—just as he did for former National Security Adviser John Bolton and ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had similar security details.
Beyond stripping Milley of his security clearance, Hegseth has tasked the Pentagon’s acting inspector general with investigating whether the retired general should be demoted. The primary concern? Milley’s conduct during Trump’s first term, specifically his shocking decision to go behind the president’s back and communicate directly with Chinese military leadership.
“The Secretary has also directed the DoD IG to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination,” Ullyot said.
This investigation could lead to Milley losing a star—a serious consequence for a former Joint Chiefs chairman who openly defied his commander-in-chief.
Milley’s insubordination came to light through Bob Woodward and Robert Costa’s 2021 book *Peril*, which revealed that the general had assured Chinese Gen. Li Zuocheng that the U.S. would not take military action against China—without informing President Trump.
“General Li, I want to assure you that the American government is stable and everything is going to be okay,” Milley reportedly told the Chinese military leader. “We are not going to attack or conduct any kinetic operations against you.”
Trump, who was never informed about the calls, slammed Milley at the time, writing on Truth Social that the general could be “tried for TREASON” for secretly communicating with China and allegedly promising advance warning of any U.S. attack.
Milley, for his part, has taken repeated public shots at Trump, calling him a “dumbass” and a “fascist” in Woodward’s book—comments that only further highlight his open disdain for civilian leadership.
Hegseth’s crackdown on Milley comes amid a broader effort to clean house in the Defense Department and reassert accountability. DoD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper made it clear that restoring discipline is a priority under President Trump’s leadership.
“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,” Kasper said in a statement.
And the purge isn’t stopping there. Just hours after Trump’s inauguration, Milley’s recently unveiled portrait in the Pentagon’s Joint Staff hallway was quietly removed. Now, a second portrait honoring his service as Army Chief of Staff will also be taken down, according to Fox News.
This is a long-overdue reckoning for a general who prioritized political games over military discipline. Trump’s Pentagon is sending a clear message: rogue actors who undermine the chain of command won’t be rewarded—they’ll be held accountable. And if the investigation confirms Milley’s misconduct, he won’t just lose his security clearance—he could lose his rank.
