Dan Caldwell, a top adviser to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was escorted from the Pentagon and placed on administrative leave following an investigation into an unauthorized disclosure, according to a U.S. official. The nature of the leak remains undisclosed, and the investigation is ongoing.
The move is part of the Trump administration's intensified crackdown on leaks, a policy Hegseth has strongly supported. A March 21 memo from Hegseth’s chief of staff called for an investigation into leaks of sensitive national security information and hinted at the potential use of polygraphs.
Caldwell, a key player behind the scenes, had served as a critical liaison to the National Security Council during preparations for U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. His role was highlighted in a Signal chat leak published by The Atlantic, in which Hegseth identified him as the top point of contact.
A Marine Corps veteran and Iraq War critic, Caldwell has drawn both praise and controversy for his views. In a 2024 Financial Times interview, he described the Iraq War as a “monstrous crime” and questioned the value of U.S. military interventions abroad, including aid to Ukraine. His stance reflected a broader push for U.S. defense retrenchment, especially in Europe and the Middle East.
Caldwell's removal follows a series of high-profile dismissals since Hegseth assumed office in January. The shakeup has included the ousting of the Joint Chiefs chairman, top Navy and Cyber Command officials, and the U.S. military representative to NATO.
While Caldwell was not subjected to a confirmed polygraph, his removal adds to the mounting pressure and internal scrutiny within the Pentagon under the current administration’s leak-focused policies.