The U.S. Department of Defense has decided to remove personal protection and review a rank reduction for Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has been at odds with President Donald Trump, according to reports from Reuters and The New York Times on the 28th (local time). Milley was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2019 during Trump's first term, but he had conflicts with President Trump around the time of the 2020 election.
According to foreign media, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has instructed the Department of Defense inspector general to investigate Milley. This indicates the possibility of a rank reduction. Multiple senior officials quoted by foreign media reported that Secretary Hegseth would announce the immediate withdrawal of Milley's personal protection and security clearance. The U.S. Department of Defense plans to completely remove Milley's portrait from its building.
Milley served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2019 to September 2023, leading Western military support for Ukraine immediately after Russia's invasion. Controversy erupted when it was later revealed that Milley had secretly communicated with China shortly after the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, in which supporters of President Trump stormed Congress after disputing the results of the 2020 election. At that time, President Trump said on his social media, "Such a terrible act would have been punishable by death in the old days."
Former President Joe Biden granted Milley preemptive clemency just before leaving office. Preemptive clemency is when a president absolves someone who has not been charged or convicted. Foreign media analysts suggest that Biden granted preemptive clemency out of concern that Trump would pursue retaliatory prosecution against Milley after taking office. Since Milley was pardoned, he cannot be tried in a military court, although a rank reduction may still be imposed.