Second Pentagon Official Placed on Leave Amid Leak Investigation

Darin Selnick, the deputy chief of staff for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on administrative leave as part of an ongoing Pentagon leak probe.

The Defense Department announced that Darin Selnick, a key figure in the office of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was removed from his duties on Tuesday. This action follows the earlier suspension of another Pentagon official, Dan Caldwell, both implicated in the same investigation concerning unauthorized disclosures of national security information.

Selnick, a retired Air Force officer with a strong background in veterans’ affairs, was escorted out of the Pentagon headquarters. His biography on the Pentagon’s website highlights his commitment to advocating for veterans and preparing service members for life after military service. Both Selnick and Caldwell previously worked with Concerned Veterans for America, an organization once led by Secretary Hegseth.

The investigation, which began last month, focuses on recent leaks including sensitive information about Panama Canal plans and Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon. While the specifics of the leaks remain undisclosed, the Defense Department has emphasized that the use of polygraphs in this investigation will adhere to legal and policy standards.

As the probe continues, no direct evidence has yet linked Selnick or Caldwell to the leaks. The Defense Department is expected to submit a report to Secretary Hegseth upon completion of the investigation.