Dan Caldwell, a top adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon due to an unauthorized disclosure following a Department of Defense investigation into leaks. The investigation, as confirmed by an official source, is ongoing, although specific details of the disclosure or its recipient were not disclosed. A memo signed by Hegseth’s chief of staff requested an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information, hinting at the potential use of polygraphs in the probe.
Caldwell, who has been a key figure in Hegseth’s team and was designated as the primary point of contact for the National Security Council during preparations for strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, has a background as a Marine Corps veteran and previously worked for Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit group associated with Republican lawmakers and conservative policies.
The decision to place Caldwell on administrative leave is distinct from recent federal firings under the Trump administration. While the exact nature of the unauthorized disclosure and its implications remain under investigation, Caldwell’s removal signifies a significant development within the Pentagon’s leadership structure. This incident raises concerns about information security protocols within the Department of Defense and underscores the importance of maintaining confidentiality in national security matters.
