Three Pentagon officials fired amid leak investigation: Politico

Three Pentagon officials fired amid leak investigation: Politico

In a significant development, the Pentagon has fired three high-ranking officials amid an ongoing investigation into potential leaks of sensitive information. The terminations come as part of a broader probe into unauthorized disclosures of national security information, which has drawn scrutiny to the department's leadership under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The first to be suspended was Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. Carroll was followed by Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Defense Department's deputy chief of staff. All three were placed on administrative leave earlier in the week before their terminations [1].

The leaks under investigation include military operational plans for the Panama Canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, Elon Musk’s controversial visit to the Pentagon to discuss China, and a pause in the collection of intelligence for Ukraine [1]. These incidents have fueled calls for Hegseth to resign, with Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) stating that Hegseth should never have been appointed based on merit alone and is now a national security threat [1].

The investigation was launched following reports that Elon Musk was to receive a top-secret briefing about the US military's planning for potential war with China. The Pentagon has denied any such plans, but the investigation is looking into more than just this single story [3].

Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s chief of staff, called for the investigation in March, stating that those found responsible would be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for prosecution [2]. Kasper himself is also under review as part of the probe [3].

This week's events highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Pentagon in maintaining the security of classified information and the potential risks associated with high-level political appointees. The terminations and ongoing investigation underscore the seriousness with which the Pentagon is taking these leaks and the need for swift and decisive action to protect national security.

References:
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/pentagon-official-suspended-leak-investigation-00293473
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-19/three-pentagon-officials-fired-amid-leak-investigation-politico
[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2-pentagon-officials-fired-amid-sweeping-leak-investigation/