politics
Senate NDAA adds protections for 'political speech' by military retirees amid Hegseth-Kelly battle
Key takeaways
- Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the lawmaker s criticism of the Trump administration.
- 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.
- Committee members unanimously approved the language in a closed-door debate, with no Republican senators raising objections, Politico reported.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the lawmaker s criticism of the Trump administration.
The provision — included in the Senate Armed Service Committee s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed out of committee earlier this month — would update the Uniform Code of Military Justice to exempt certain types of speech by a retiree from being subject to punishment, according to the draft bill.
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.
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