Defense Secretary Hegseth's Top Advisor Placed on Leave Amid Leak Investigation
Dan Caldwell, a top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on administrative leave following an investigation into unauthorized disclosures of national security information.
In a move that has stirred significant attention within the Pentagon, Dan Caldwell, a key advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was escorted out of the building and placed on administrative leave on Tuesday. This action comes in the wake of a Defense Department probe into recent unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by a Defense Department official to Fox News Digital.
Caldwell, who previously worked with restraint-minded think tanks and has advocated for a reduced U.S. military footprint overseas, was implicated in the investigation due to an “unauthorized disclosure,” though specific details about what information was disclosed remain undisclosed. The Defense Department has escalated its response to the leaks, announcing the use of polygraphs in an effort to identify the source of the breaches. According to DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, the investigation will culminate in a report directly to Secretary Hegseth.
The situation has raised questions about security within the Pentagon, especially given Caldwell’s close ties to Hegseth, highlighted by his mention in a leaked Signal chat about Houthi strikes. The Defense Department has emphasized its commitment to pursuing criminal prosecution for those responsible for unauthorized disclosures, signaling a firm stance on maintaining the integrity of national security information.
As the investigation continues, the Pentagon, along with other government agencies like the departments of Homeland Security and Justice, has ramped up efforts to use polygraphs to root out leakers. This comes amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over security protocols, especially following President Donald Trump’s denial of a New York Times report about sharing war plans with Elon Musk. There is currently no direct evidence linking Caldwell to that specific leak, and the nature of any unauthorized information he may have disclosed remains under investigation.