Third Pentagon Official Suspended in Widening Leak Probe
The investigation into unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information at the Department of Defense expanded Wednesday as a third senior Pentagon official was placed on administrative leave and escorted from the building. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, joined two other political appointees who were suspended earlier in the week, signaling a potentially broader purge within Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership team.
Carroll’s suspension follows the removal of senior adviser Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, both of whom were placed on administrative leave as part of an inquiry into leaks of classified information. The expanding investigation has created significant turmoil within the Pentagon’s highest offices and raised questions about operational security within the department.
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Mounting Tensions in the Inner Sanctum
The abrupt personnel shake-up has reportedly “roiled the building’s inner sanctum,” according to Red Lake Nation News, leaving other officials wondering who might be targeted next. What initially appeared to be a limited investigation focusing on two officials has now expanded, suggesting the scope of the inquiry may continue to widen.
The suspensions come amid a period of significant upheaval at the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership. Since taking 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 top admiral in the Navy, both of whom he had previously criticized for their focus on diversity initiatives.
“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,” reports the Daily Herald.
The Investigation Takes Shape
The suspensions stem from a directive issued last month by Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, who called for an investigation into the “unauthorized disclosures of national security information.” In a memo dated March 21, Kasper announced that the inquiry would “commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.”
The memo included unusually aggressive language, stating that Kasper wanted to be “informed immediately if this effort results in information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure, and that such information will be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution.”
According to Yahoo News, the investigation is focused on leaked information regarding several sensitive matters, including military plans involving the Panama Canal, the deployment of a second carrier to the Red Sea, Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon in March, and a pause in intelligence aid to Ukraine.
Political Ties and Professional Backgrounds
The suspended officials all have close ties to Hegseth and the Trump administration. Both Caldwell and Selnick previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), 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, while Caldwell is a Marine Corps veteran who served during the Iraq War.
Carroll’s background and specific role in the investigation have not been as thoroughly detailed in public reporting. However, his position as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense would have given him access to highly sensitive information regarding department operations and priorities.
Prior to joining the Pentagon, Selnick served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Caldwell was identified in reporting by The Atlantic as Hegseth’s designated point of contact for coordinating military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Ironic Twist in Leak Investigation
In a notable irony, the investigation into leaks comes as Hegseth himself faces scrutiny for potential mishandling of sensitive information. Last month, The Atlantic reported that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to an unclassified group chat on the Signal messaging application where Trump advisers, including Hegseth, discussed plans for U.S. military operations in Yemen.
National Security Adviser Michael Waltz reportedly added the journalist to the chat by mistake, while Hegseth shared operational details before the military action occurred. Former defense officials have noted that such information is typically considered highly classified, requiring code word clearance and secure communications channels.
Hegseth has denied that the information shared in the group chat contained classified material. Nevertheless, the Defense Department inspector general’s office has announced it will examine these disclosures.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about whether additional officials will be targeted and what impact the suspensions will have on Pentagon operations during a time of significant global security challenges.
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