Federal Judge Blocks Pentagon From Docking Sen. Mark Kelly's Rank on February 12, 2026

A federal judge blocked the Pentagon Thursday from docking Sen. Mark Kelly’s rank and reducing his pay as part of a move by War Secretary Pete Hegseth to censure the Arizona Democrat. DC Senior US District Judge Richard J. Leon ordered the Department of War to refrain “from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect” to Hegseth’s Jan. 5 censure letter — or “taking any other action in reliance on the findings, determinations, or threats of additional criminal or administrative action contained in” it. Kelly sued Hegseth last month over the letter that cut his pay as a retired Navy captain, blasting the Pentagon chief for pursuing an “unconstitutional and legally baseless proceeding” against him.