Military retirees should not be subject to freedom of speech restrictions due to their military ties.

This week, I heard something that shocked me. In a federal appeals court, lawyers for Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions because of their connection to the military, and that if they didn’t like those restrictions, retirees could forfeit their pension and benefits. The Trump administration expects the people who have put their lives on the line for America to cede one of their basic rights, or forfeit the retirement pay and benefits they have earned over decades of service https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/opinion/hegseth-kelly-military-free-speech.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

“ In a US federal appeals court, lawyers for Pete #Hegseth, the secretary of defense, argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions because of their connection to the military, and that if they didn’t like those restrictions, retirees could forfeit their pension and benefits.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/opinion/hegseth-kelly-military-free-speech.html