Dan Caldwell Ousted in Pentagon Leak Probe

Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was placed on administrative leave and escorted from the Pentagon on April 15, 2025. This action followed an ongoing investigation into unauthorized disclosures of national security information within the United States — United States Department of Defense. The investigation was initiated by a memo from Pete Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, on March 21, which also mentioned the possibility of polygraph tests. Dan Caldwell's importance was highlighted in a leaked Signal message chain published by The Atlantic, where Pete Hegseth identified him as a key contact for the National Security Council during planning for strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This event is part of a broader crackdown on leaks by the Donald Trump administration and Pete Hegseth's tenure at the Pentagon.