Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a vigorous defense of President Donald Trump’s controversial order to revoke retired four-star Gen. Mark Milley’s government-funded security detail – and had a message for Pentagon officials of all ranks.
The comments came Wednesday during Hegseth’s appearance on Fox News’ “The Will Cain” show, his first interview since being confirmed Friday as Pentagon chief. Hegseth came on the program to discuss Trump’s order to send undocumented migrants to Guantanamo Bay.
But he quickly shifted gears to the debate swirling over Milley’s security being removed when Cain asked what the “thought process” was at the Pentagon before arriving at the decision.
“Accountability is back, Will,” Hegseth, a former Fox News host himself, told the anchor. “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.”
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He added that just as it was in former President Joe Biden’s “purview” to issue Milley a pardon, it is “our purview at the Defense Department" to review "things he may have done inside the chain of command while President Trump was president that undermined those authorities.”
Hegseth said the consequences for Milley, a Trump critic who during the 2024 campaign described Trump as "fascist to the core," include having his security detail temporarily revoked and his security clearance suspended. He added that Milley will also undergo a review of the rank he will retain upon retirement, “and he’ll have that process.”
“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.”
Cain responded by telling Hegseth that he knows he’s “been busy” in his new role because “I haven’t gotten any return texts.”
Milley is one of at least three other former administration officials who have been targeted by Iran for assassination.
