Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Defends Revoking Gen. Mark Milley’s Security Detail, Cites ‘Accountability’
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Washington, D.C. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to revoke retired four-star Gen. Mark Milley’s government-funded security detail, sending a clear message that accountability is back at the Pentagon.
Hegseth’s remarks came Wednesday during his first televised interview since being confirmed as Pentagon chief last Friday. Appearing on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” Hegseth initially discussed Trump’s order to send undocumented migrants to Guantanamo Bay but quickly pivoted to the growing debate surrounding Milley’s security revocation.
When asked by host Will Cain about the “thought process” behind the decision, Hegseth, a former Fox News host himself, made it clear that the administration views Milley’s past actions as warranting scrutiny.
“Accountability is back, Will,” Hegseth stated. “It’s the understanding that if you actively undermine the chain of command, as Gen. Milley did under the previous Trump administration, we’re going to review those actions administratively inside the Defense Department.”
Hegseth acknowledged that just as former President Joe Biden had the authority to issue Milley a pardon, the Pentagon also has the authority to “review things he may have done inside the chain of command while President Trump was president that undermined those authorities.”
Milley, who has been openly critical of Trump and described him as “fascist to the core” during the 2024 campaign, now faces additional scrutiny beyond the removal of his security detail. Hegseth confirmed that Milley’s security clearance has also been suspended and that a review is underway to determine the rank he will retain upon retirement.
“This is a demonstration that inside President Trump’s Defense Department, we’re going to hold, not just junior levels, or mid-levels – the highest levels accountable for actions, and that’s the signal this is meant to send,” Hegseth emphasized.
Cain responded with a lighthearted remark, telling Hegseth, “I know you’ve been busy because I haven’t gotten any return texts.”
The decision to revoke Milley’s security detail has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent by targeting a retired military leader for perceived disloyalty. Milley is one of at least three former U.S. officials who have been identified by Iran as targets for assassination, further fueling concerns over his security.
The move underscores the Trump administration’s aggressive stance toward those it views as having undermined its authority, and it remains to be seen how this latest decision will play out in Washington’s already heated political climate.
