Former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the immediate revocation of retired Gen. Mark Milley's personal security detail and security clearance, according to senior administration officials. This move signals a new wave of accountability within the Defense Department under the Trump administration.
In addition to revoking his security detail, Secretary Hegseth directed the acting Inspector General to launch a review board to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist to demote Gen. Milley in retirement. This investigation centers on Milley's alleged actions to undermine the chain of command during President Trump's initial term. The Pentagon also removed a second portrait of Gen. Milley, this one from the Army's Marshall Corridor, further diminishing his presence within the building. This follows the removal of his portrait as the U.S. military's top officer shortly after President Trump's inauguration.
These actions come in the wake of President Trump's revocation of security clearances for 51 intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story. The security details assigned to Gen. Milley and other former Trump aides originated from threats issued by Iran following the 2020 drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.
Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his hope that President Trump would reconsider the removal of protective security details from former Trump officials John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook. An anonymous senior administration official emphasized that these measures reflect a renewed focus on accountability within the Defense Department under President Trump's leadership.
Gen. Milley's career spanned from 2019 to 2023 as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving under both Presidents Trump and Biden. He also held the position of Army chief of staff from 2015 to 2019. Bob Woodward's book "War" reveals Gen. Milley's opinion that Trump was "fascist to the core," a remark reportedly made while Milley was still serving as chairman. Woodward also mentioned in a prior book that Gen. Milley expressed concerns to him about Trump's mental state and control over nuclear weapons.
Despite past tensions, President Trump commended Milley following the successful raid that killed the leader of ISIS in 2019. Before the end of his term, President Biden pardoned Gen. Milley. Woodward and Robert Costa's book "Peril" details Gen. Milley's communication with his Chinese counterpart during the final months of Trump's first term, assuring him that the U.S. had no intention of attacking China.
