The Trump administration is taking swift action against retired General Mark Milley, revoking his security clearance, stripping him of his personal detail, and removing his Pentagon portraits.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also ordered a review board to determine whether Milley should be demoted in retirement, citing concerns over his past actions and public criticism of former President Donald Trump, according to Fox News.
On January 29, 2025, Hegseth announced that Milley's security clearance and personal security detail would be revoked immediately. The move follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce what officials call a "new era of accountability" in the Department of Defense.
Additionally, the Pentagon is removing the last remaining portrait of Milley from its halls. One portrait, depicting his time as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was taken down on Inauguration Day—just hours after Trump was sworn in. The second, which honored Milley's tenure as Army Chief of Staff, is being taken down immediately.
Milley served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023 under both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His tenure was marked by controversy, particularly in the final months of Trump's first term, when he took steps to reassure foreign leaders about U.S. military stability.
According to the book "Peril" by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, Milley called his Chinese counterpart in late 2020 to assure him the U.S. had no plans to launch an attack, a move some viewed as insubordination.
Milley's relationship with Trump further deteriorated after reports surfaced that he questioned the former president's mental stability and control over nuclear weapons. According to Woodward's book "War," Milley allegedly described Trump as "fascist to the core" during a conversation in March 2023.
These comments, along with his actions during Trump's presidency, have fueled accusations from Trump allies that Milley undermined the chain of command.
Despite his strained ties with Trump, Milley was publicly praised by the former president in 2019 for his role in overseeing the raid that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Before leaving office in 2025, President Joe Biden issued Milley a pardon, though details on what necessitated the pardon remain unclear.
The administration is also initiating a review board to assess whether Milley's actions warrant the loss of a star in retirement, which would reduce his pension and official rank.
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