Washington, D.C.(Agencies): Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon following an investigation into unauthorized disclosures of department information. The move marks a significant development in the Pentagon’s ongoing crackdown on leaks.
Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran and close associate of Hegseth, has been a key figure in the Defense Department. His ties to Hegseth date back to their time at Concerned Veterans for America, where Caldwell served as policy director and later executive director. He also played a pivotal role as Hegseth’s point person in a Signal messaging chat used by top Trump administration officials to coordinate military plans, including strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen.
The investigation into Caldwell’s alleged leaks comes amid heightened scrutiny within the Pentagon. A March 21 memo from Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an immediate probe into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information. The memo warned that personnel could face polygraph tests as part of the inquiry.
While the specific nature of the leaks remains undisclosed, the investigation underscores the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to address breaches of sensitive information. Caldwell’s ouster follows a series of high-profile dismissals under Hegseth’s tenure, reflecting a broader campaign to tighten security protocols within the Defense Department.
Caldwell, who also worked as a public policy adviser at the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities, has not commented on the allegations. The investigation is ongoing, with officials emphasizing the seriousness of the matter and the potential for criminal prosecution if evidence of wrongdoing is found.