Two Republicans oppose Pete Hegseth's censure of Senator Mark Kelly

Senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis publicly opposed Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth's move to demote Senator Mark Kelly and reduce his pension after a video; Hegseth has opened an administrative retirement grade determination proceeding.

The Pentagon announced administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly after he and other Democrats released a video last year urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a formal censure letter and said a retirement grade determination proceeding has begun. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Thom Tillis, spoke out against the censure and described targeting benefits over a political video as inappropriate or an overreach. Other Republican senators offered measured or non-committal responses or declined to comment. Key developments: - The Pentagon announced it has begun administrative action and issued a formal censure letter regarding Kelly. - The announced action includes a "retirement grade determination proceeding" that could lower Kelly's rank and reduce his pension. - Senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis publicly criticized the censure, calling it inappropriate or an overreach. - Several other Republican senators responded with restrained comments, said the process should play out, or declined to comment. Summary: Two Republican senators openly criticized Secretary Hegseth's disciplinary action against Senator Mark Kelly, while many colleagues gave limited or non-committal responses. The Pentagon has begun a retirement grade determination proceeding; its outcome and timeline are undetermined at this time.