The Pentagon has confirmed that retired Gen. Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both the Trump and Biden administrations, has had his security detail and security clearance revoked.
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Milley of the decision on Tuesday.
“Secretary Hegseth informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well,” Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot stated to CBS News.
Ullyot also noted that Hegseth has directed the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General to “conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination.”
Additionally, Acting Defense Department Inspector General Stephen Stebbins has received a request to evaluate whether Milley, a four-star general, should be demoted by one rank, according to a Pentagon spokesperson. Stebbins is currently reviewing the request.
Background on Milley’s Tenure
Milley was appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by former President Donald Trump and served a full four-year term from 2019 to 2023. However, he and Trump publicly clashed in the final months of Trump’s presidency over a series of incidents.
One notable point of contention was Milley’s apology for participating—while in military fatigues—in a June 2020 photo opportunity outside St. John’s Church. The event took place after federal officers forcibly cleared social justice protesters from Lafayette Park so Trump could walk from the White House to the church.
Further controversy arose in September 2021 when a book revealed that Milley had held two phone calls with Chinese General Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army—one on October 30, 2020, and another on January 8, 2021, two days after the Capitol insurrection. The calls were intended to reassure China that the United States remained stable and had no intention of launching an attack.
Upon learning of the calls, Trump accused Milley of “treason” and, in a 2023 social media post, suggested the general’s actions could be considered a “treasonous act” warranting execution.
Milley later defended his actions in an October 2023 interview with “60 Minutes,” stating, “The calls were an example of de-escalation. There were clear indications that the Chinese were very concerned about what they were observing here in the United States.”
According to another 2021 book, Milley feared Trump might attempt a coup following his 2020 election loss and made preparations to counter such a scenario.
Broader Security Revocations
On January 20, 2025, as he was leaving office, former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Milley and others he believed could be targeted by the incoming Trump administration.
In a statement Tuesday, Joe Kasper, Defense Department Chief of Staff, emphasized the administration’s commitment to accountability.
“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,” Kasper stated.
Milley is not the only official affected by security revocations. The Trump administration has also withdrawn federal security details from former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former special envoy on Iran Brian Hook, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
(CBS News)