Pentagon Investigates Unauthorized Disclosure Involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Adviser

The Defense Department has taken serious action by placing two officials on administrative leave in response to an ongoing investigation concerning unauthorized disclosures. Among those affected is Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was reportedly escorted out of the Pentagon. Darin Selnick, the deputy chief of staff at the Pentagon, has also been suspended as part of this inquiry.

The investigation was prompted by a memo from Joe Kasper, Hegseth's chief of staff, which called for the Pentagon to look into unauthorized information sharing, potentially utilizing lie detector tests as part of the process. Reports suggest that Caldwell is being investigated for allegedly disclosing classified documents to reporters, raising concerns within the department.

Caldwell is not new to the world of defense; he has previous experience with the think tank Defense Priorities and was involved with Concerned Veterans for America, which Hegseth led previously. His connection to the military is solidified by his service in the Marine Corps during the Iraq War. Notably, Caldwell was referenced in an article by The Atlantic, in which his involvement in discussions concerning military actions against Houthi forces was highlighted.

On the same day that Kasper's memo was issued, the Pentagon and White House firmly rejected claims that Elon Musk was at the Pentagon for a briefing on potential military strategies in the event of a conflict with China. Despite the Trump administration asserting that Musk does not hold any formal position within the Department of Government Efficiency, his influence and participation in several Cabinet meetings have been noted.