Hegseth Revokes General Milley’s Security Clearance and Pulls His Security Detail Admid Investigation – Guy D. McCardle
In a move that rocked both military and political communities, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked the security clearance and personal protection detail of retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This decision, directed by President Donald Trump, also includes an investigation that could lead to Milley’s demotion by stripping him of a star.
Military Background
Mark A. Milley dedicated over four decades to military service before his retirement in September 2023. As the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he held the highest-ranking military position in the United States from October 1, 2019, to September 29, 2023. His extensive career saw him serve in multiple leadership roles across eight divisions and Special Forces units, making him one of the most experienced officers in modern U.S. military history.
Milley began his military journey after commissioning as an armor officer through Princeton University’s ROTC program in 1980. Over the years, he commanded several units, including the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea from 1996 to 1998 and later the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from 2003 to 2005. His leadership eventually led him to serve as the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 2015 to 2019. Throughout his service, Milley deployed to major operations in Panama, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan, shaping U.S. military strategy across multiple conflicts.
One of the most defining moments of Milley’s career was the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. He later described the pullout as a “strategic failure” and admitted he had “lots of regrets” about how the 20-year war came to an end. During congressional testimony, he stated that he had advised keeping at least 2,500 troops in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from regaining control.
He also criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the civilian evacuation, calling it “too slow and too late.” However, he still praised the military for executing what he described as “an amazing logistical feat” in evacuating over 120,000 people. Despite their efforts, the chaotic withdrawal resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport.
The controversy surrounding Milley’s role in the withdrawal followed him even after retirement. In January 2025, former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to Milley, likely in connection to decisions made during the Afghanistan pullout. While the pardon may shield him from legal consequences, debates over his leadership, decisions, and legacy continue to stir discussions within military and political circles.
Controversy Over Leaving Afghanistan
As noted, General Milley faced intense criticism over the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, with many pointing to serious failures in planning and execution. Milley himself acknowledged this and admitted that while the U.S. military helped build an army and a government, it “could not forge a nation.” The collapse of the Afghan government and military happened far faster than anticipated, with Milley admitting that military leaders “absolutely missed the rapid, 11-day collapse” of Afghan forces.
In a move that rocked both military and political communities, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked the security clearance and personal protection detail of retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This decision, directed by President Donald Trump, also includes an investigation that could lead to Milley’s demotion by stripping him of a star.
Military Background
Mark A. Milley dedicated over four decades to military service before his retirement in September 2023. As the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he held the highest-ranking military position in the United States from October 1, 2019, to September 29, 2023. His extensive career saw him serve in multiple leadership roles across eight divisions and Special Forces units, making him one of the most experienced officers in modern U.S. military history.
Milley began his military journey after commissioning as an armor officer through Princeton University’s ROTC program in 1980. Over the years, he commanded several units, including the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea from 1996 to 1998 and later the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from 2003 to 2005. His leadership eventually led him to serve as the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 2015 to 2019. Throughout his service, Milley deployed to major operations in Panama, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan, shaping U.S. military strategy across multiple conflicts.
One of the most defining moments of Milley’s career was the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. He later described the pullout as a “strategic failure” and admitted he had “lots of regrets” about how the 20-year war came to an end. During congressional testimony, he stated that he had advised keeping at least 2,500 troops in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from regaining control.
He also criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the civilian evacuation, calling it “too slow and too late.” However, he still praised the military for executing what he described as “an amazing logistical feat” in evacuating over 120,000 people. Despite their efforts, the chaotic withdrawal resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport.
The controversy surrounding Milley’s role in the withdrawal followed him even after retirement. In January 2025, former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to Milley, likely in connection to decisions made during the Afghanistan pullout. While the pardon may shield him from legal consequences, debates over his leadership, decisions, and legacy continue to stir discussions within military and political circles.
Controversy Over Leaving Afghanistan
As noted, General Milley faced intense criticism over the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, with many pointing to serious failures in planning and execution. Milley himself acknowledged this and admitted that while the U.S. military helped build an army and a government, it “could not forge a nation.” The collapse of the Afghan government and military happened far faster than anticipated, with Milley admitting that military leaders “absolutely missed the rapid, 11-day collapse” of Afghan forces.
One of the biggest points of contention was the timing of the civilian evacuation. Milley softly criticized the Biden administration’s decision to delay the execution of the evacuation. This delay contributed to the scenes of chaos at Kabul airport in the final days as desperate Afghans and Americans scrambled to leave the country. The failure to anticipate the Taliban’s swift advance left little time for an orderly withdrawal, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
Milley’s testimony before Congress also put him at odds with President Biden. He revealed that he had recommended keeping at least 2,500 troops in Afghanistan to prevent a complete Taliban takeover—a statement that directly contradicted Biden’s public claims that no military leaders advised leaving troops behind. This contradiction raised serious questions about the administration’s decision-making process and accountability.
The most devastating consequence of the withdrawal was the loss of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport. Many critics blamed poor planning and execution for the security lapse that allowed the attack to happen. Beyond the immediate tragedy, Milley also admitted that America’s global credibility suffered because of the withdrawal, shaking trust among U.S. allies while emboldening adversaries.
Another major concern was the vast amount of military equipment left behind. While Milley claimed that all American-owned equipment was either taken back or destroyed, critics worried that U.S.-provided weapons and vehicles given to the Afghan military had fallen into Taliban hands or onto the black market. And, dear readers, that is exactly what happened. Millions of dollars worth of taxpayer-purchased American military might is now in the hands of our former enemy.
Ultimately, Milley’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal became part of a broader dissatisfaction with how the situation was managed. While multiple administrations contributed to the decades-long war, the final exit under President Biden’s leadership was disastrous. Milley’s admissions and criticisms have done little to quell the debate over what went wrong and who is to blame.
Strained Relationship With President Trump
General Milley’s relationship with President Donald Trump started on solid ground during the first Trump administration but quickly unraveled, eventually turning into outright hostility. Milley was appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Trump in 2018, but their relationship soured due to several major disagreements. One of the earliest points of contention came in 2020 when Milley resisted Trump’s suggestion to use military force to suppress protests following George Floyd’s death. His refusal to support such actions set the stage for growing friction between the two.
Later that same year, Milley made two backchannel phone calls to his Chinese counterpart, reportedly to reassure Beijing that the U.S. was not preparing for an attack. Trump later called these calls “treasonous,” while Milley defended them as routine and within his responsibilities. Following the January 6 Capitol riot, Milley again took steps to calm concerns abroad, further angering Trump, who saw these moves as undermining his authority.
Their conflict escalated when Milley publicly criticized Trump in his final speech as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2023. He referred to Trump as a “wannabe dictator,” cementing the growing animosity between them. Trump, in turn, accused Milley of treason over his secret communications with China, even suggesting that in earlier times, “the punishment would have been death!”
The feud was further fueled by revelations in Bob Woodward’s book War, where Milley was quoted as calling Trump “fascist” and “the most dangerous person to this country.” These remarks solidified Trump’s belief that Milley had been actively working against him. Even after Trump left office, the hostility remained. With Trump’s return to the presidency, his administration wasted no time targeting Milley.
The Recent Decision
On January 29, 2025, newly minted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Milley’s security clearance had been revoked and that his personal protective detail was being removed. These moves come alongside an investigation into Milley’s conduct during his tenure, with the possibility that his four-star rank could be downgraded.
The Pentagon justified these actions by citing concerns about Milley undermining the chain of command. Joe Kasper, the Pentagon’s chief of staff, emphasized that “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.” With this decision, Milley becomes the fourth former Trump official to lose security protections, following similar moves against former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former Iran envoy Brian Hook.
The White House has defended the decision, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that President Trump does not believe these officials should “have lifelong security clearances and private details at taxpayer expense.” However, Milley had been under a protective detail due to credible threats against his life stemming from his involvement in the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. Intelligence assessments as recently as 2024 confirmed that these threats remained active.
With the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General now conducting a formal inquiry, Milley could face an unprecedented demotion from his four-star rank. Whether this is about national security, accountability, or political retribution remains a matter of fierce debate across the political aisle. However, one thing is certain—Trump’s White House is making it clear that former officials who opposed him are not untouchable.
Implications and Reactions
The decisions affecting Milley have sparked significant debate, with both political and institutional consequences. Critics argue that this move is an act of political retribution, targeting Milley for his open criticism of Trump, including his remark calling the former president a “wannabe dictator” during his retirement ceremony. This action follows a broader pattern of Trump’s administration taking similar measures against former officials who opposed him, such as Mike Pompeo and John Bolton. Trump’s supporters, on the other hand, see it as a necessary step toward restoring accountability in military leadership. Regardless of perspective, the decision has deepened political divisions, with some warning that it undermines the independence of military leaders and sets a dangerous precedent.
Institutionally, the Pentagon justified the action by citing Milley’s alleged undermining of the chain of command. One of the most controversial aspects of his tenure was his independent communication with Chinese military officials in 2020—a move Trump labeled as treasonous, but Milley defended as routine and necessary. In response, Milley could lose a star. This raises serious concerns about the politicization of military service and whether post-retirement accountability is being used as a tool for political payback. Or, perhaps, it is an overdue and just punishment for a man who is seen as bypassing his chain of command.
Beyond politics, there are real security risks tied to this decision. Milley is under credible death threats from Iran. President Trump has not denied this but has argued that the US taxpayers should not have to pay for Milley’s protection as a civilian.
In the end, this decision highlights the growing politicization of civil-military relations and raises difficult questions about the balance between accountability and political retaliation. Whether it strengthens military discipline or signals a dangerous shift in handling disagreements between civilian leadership and the military remains to be seen.
Looking Ahead
The investigation into General Milley’s conduct is ongoing. If the inspector general finds that he did undermine the chain of command, Milley could face a reduction in rank, which would be a significant blow to his distinguished military career.
Keep checking back with SOFREP for the latest in this ongoing news story.
