Hegseth’s Pentagon Purge: Who’s Next in Leak Investigation?
A widening investigation into unauthorized disclosures at the Department of Defense has now claimed three senior officials, with Pentagon insiders questioning how far the purge might extend. The suspension of a third official on Wednesday has transformed what initially appeared to be a limited inquiry into what some are describing as a potential departmental purge, creating uncertainty throughout the building’s leadership ranks.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s aggressive approach to identifying leakers has raised questions about both the investigation’s scope and its impact on Pentagon operations during a time of global security challenges. With each new suspension, speculation grows about additional targets and the investigation’s ultimate objectives.
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
- Luxury Heist Victims Reunite: Kardashian Testifies In Paris
- Toledo Teen’s Murder Sparks Child Services Reform Push
- U.S. Bitcoin Reserve Plans Falter As Schiff Celebrates
- Body Image Debate Erupts Over Sweeney’s Body Measurements
- Crumbl’s Spoilers: Carrot Cake Headlines Easter Week Cookies
The Expanding Circle of Suspicion
What began Monday with the suspension of senior adviser Dan Caldwell quickly expanded Tuesday to include deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, before widening further Wednesday to encompass Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. All three officials were escorted from the Pentagon building and placed on administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome.
The rapid expansion caught many in the department by surprise. According to Red Lake Nation News, one official had stated Tuesday that it appeared Caldwell and Selnick would be the only officials targeted “for now,” only for Carroll to join the list a day later, “raising questions about whether the purge will continue to widen.”
This pattern of expansion has created significant anxiety throughout the Pentagon’s political and career staff ranks. With each new suspension, the circle of those potentially under scrutiny grows larger, creating what one source described as a “chilling effect” on internal communications and decision-making processes.
The Investigation’s Focus and Methods
The investigation stems from a March 21 memo issued by Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, which called for a probe into “unauthorized disclosures of national security information.” According to Yahoo News, the inquiry is focused on several high-profile leaks, including information about military plans in the Panama Canal, the deployment of a second carrier to the Red Sea, Elon Musk’s March visit to the Pentagon, and the pausing of intelligence aid to Ukraine.
What has particularly alarmed some department veterans is Kasper’s authorization of polygraph examinations as part of the investigation. The use of lie detector tests represents an unusually aggressive approach to internal security matters and signals the seriousness with which the department is treating the leaks.
The investigation’s language suggests potential criminal implications for those found responsible. Kasper’s memo stated that he wanted to be informed immediately if the investigation identified parties responsible for unauthorized disclosures, “and that such information will be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution.”
The Trump-era Veterans Under Scrutiny
All three suspended officials have close ties to Hegseth and the Trump administration’s first term. Both Caldwell and Selnick previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a nonprofit organization that Hegseth led from 2013 to 2016.
“Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran, previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit that Hegseth led from 2013 to 2016 while also serving in the Army National Guard. Selnick, an Air Force veteran, worked as a senior adviser at CVA from 2019 to 2024,” reports the Daily Herald.
Before joining the Pentagon, Selnick served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran who served during the Iraq War, was identified in recent reporting as Hegseth’s designated point of contact for coordinating military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The suspended officials are all political appointees rather than career civil servants, giving Hegseth significant latitude in determining their employment status. Unlike career officials, political appointees can generally be removed without the same level of procedural protections.
A Pattern of Institutional Disruption
The suspensions represent the latest in a series of significant personnel changes at the Pentagon since Hegseth took office three months ago. The defense secretary has overseen the removal of nearly a dozen senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Navy’s top admiral, both of whom he had previously criticized for their focus on diversity initiatives.
Last month, John Ullyot, who had been serving as press secretary, was sidelined after clashing with colleagues and moved to a special projects role. These numerous changes have contributed to what critics describe as institutional instability at the department.
“The Pentagon’s steady tumult under Hegseth’s leadership has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats and former top Defense Department leaders alarmed by the apparent politicization of a nonpartisan institution,” the Daily Herald reported.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about both its ultimate scope and its impact on Pentagon operations. With global challenges ranging from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to strategic competition with China, the department’s ability to maintain operational focus amid internal turmoil has become a growing concern for both allies and observers.
This news took place on April 17, 2025.
A widening investigation into unauthorized disclosures at the Department of Defense has now claimed three senior officials, with Pentagon insiders questioning how far the purge might extend. The suspension of a third official on Wednesday has transformed what initially appeared to be a limited inquiry into what some are describing as a potential departmental purge, creating uncertainty throughout the building’s leadership ranks.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s aggressive approach to identifying leakers has raised questions about both the investigation’s scope and its impact on Pentagon operations during a time of global security challenges. With each new suspension, speculation grows about additional targets and the investigation’s ultimate objectives.
The Expanding Circle of Suspicion
What began Monday with the suspension of senior adviser Dan Caldwell quickly expanded Tuesday to include deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, before widening further Wednesday to encompass Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. All three officials were escorted from the Pentagon building and placed on administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome.
The rapid expansion caught many in the department by surprise. According to Red Lake Nation News, one official had stated Tuesday that it appeared Caldwell and Selnick would be the only officials targeted “for now,” only for Carroll to join the list a day later, “raising questions about whether the purge will continue to widen.”
This pattern of expansion has created significant anxiety throughout the Pentagon’s political and career staff ranks. With each new suspension, the circle of those potentially under scrutiny grows larger, creating what one source described as a “chilling effect” on internal communications and decision-making processes.
The Investigation’s Focus and Methods
The investigation stems from a March 21 memo issued by Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, which called for a probe into “unauthorized disclosures of national security information.” According to Yahoo News, the inquiry is focused on several high-profile leaks, including information about military plans in the Panama Canal, the deployment of a second carrier to the Red Sea, Elon Musk’s March visit to the Pentagon, and the pausing of intelligence aid to Ukraine.
What has particularly alarmed some department veterans is Kasper’s authorization of polygraph examinations as part of the investigation. The use of lie detector tests represents an unusually aggressive approach to internal security matters and signals the seriousness with which the department is treating the leaks.
The investigation’s language suggests potential criminal implications for those found responsible. Kasper’s memo stated that he wanted to be informed immediately if the investigation identified parties responsible for unauthorized disclosures, “and that such information will be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution.”
The Trump-era Veterans Under Scrutiny
All three suspended officials have close ties to Hegseth and the Trump administration’s first term. Both Caldwell and Selnick previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a nonprofit organization that Hegseth led from 2013 to 2016.
“Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran, previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit that Hegseth led from 2013 to 2016 while also serving in the Army National Guard. Selnick, an Air Force veteran, worked as a senior adviser at CVA from 2019 to 2024,” reports the Daily Herald.
Before joining the Pentagon, Selnick served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran who served during the Iraq War, was identified in recent reporting as Hegseth’s designated point of contact for coordinating military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The suspended officials are all political appointees rather than career civil servants, giving Hegseth significant latitude in determining their employment status. Unlike career officials, political appointees can generally be removed without the same level of procedural protections.
A Pattern of Institutional Disruption
The suspensions represent the latest in a series of significant personnel changes at the Pentagon since Hegseth took office three months ago. The defense secretary has overseen the removal of nearly a dozen senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Navy’s top admiral, both of whom he had previously criticized for their focus on diversity initiatives.
Last month, John Ullyot, who had been serving as press secretary, was sidelined after clashing with colleagues and moved to a special projects role. These numerous changes have contributed to what critics describe as institutional instability at the department.
“The Pentagon’s steady tumult under Hegseth’s leadership has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats and former top Defense Department leaders alarmed by the apparent politicization of a nonpartisan institution,” the Daily Herald reported.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about both its ultimate scope and its impact on Pentagon operations. With global challenges ranging from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to strategic competition with China, the department’s ability to maintain operational focus amid internal turmoil has become a growing concern for both allies and observers.
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
