A new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provision would protect the “political speech” of armed forces retirees.
Amid the ongoing battle between Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, the Senate Armed Services Committee has added a provision that would update the Uniform Code of Military Justice “to exempt certain types of speech by a retiree from being subject to punishment.”
“Specifically, retired service members couldn’t be punished for ‘political speech’ or ‘expressions pertaining to the actions, character, motivation, qualifications, or other attributes of government officials,'” The Hill reported. “Committee members unanimously approved the language in a closed-door debate, with no Republican senators raising objections, Politico reported.”
This comes as Hegseth has promised to take action against Kelly over his appearance in a video alongside other Democrats encouraging military personnel to reject “illegal” orders from the Trump administration.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, spoke to Politico about the provision, saying that there was “a consensus that, I think, both sides agreed that the treatment that Sen. Kelly has received is illegal and not appropriate,” any none of the people on the Senate Armed Services Committee “wants to see the judicial mechanism used as a way to punish people for what they’re saying.”
It is not certain that this exception will make it into the final version of the NDAA, and the bill will officially come before the Senate in July, where it could be scrubbed.
X users weighed in:
what Kelly did was not “political speech” so there’s nothing new
— William (@chart747) June 23, 2026
absolutely hilarious how the @SenateGop works so hard to protect dems despite them NEVER voting with them? Would a dem ever expend any effort to protect a GOP?
— Steve o/b/o Patrick (@rhainman) June 23, 2026
There is nothing I despise more than the rot that is in the Senate.
— Productdev (@John_ProductDev) June 23, 2026
All sedition is political speech, these people are retarded.
— USA-Monroebert (@Gwamberto) June 23, 2026
I support Pete Hegseth.. Mark Kelly is a Traitor to his country and the uniform he wore! He should lose his pension, and rank!
— Jany (@Jany4getmenot) June 24, 2026
wow
This here is some real true colors here
RINOs … are you going to support this bull manure
Lets see who you are
America First pay attention. This is an attempt to let the seditious six off the hook.
— Angie Pratt (@ArkansasAngie) June 24, 2026
The language makes clear that statements made once the individual retires is protected political speech, but is less clear as to whether statements made while serving can be prosecuted after that individual retires. https://t.co/aBBusczgcH
— Ami (@Ami_Marisol) June 23, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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