Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Pentagon Staff Terminated Amid Leak Inquiry
Three senior officials working for a top Defense Department figure have been dismissed as part of an investigation into unauthorized disclosures. Darin Selnick, the Pentagon’s deputy chief of staff, and Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor, were initially placed on administrative leave as the probe unfolded. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to a Deputy Defense Secretary, was also suspended shortly after. All three individuals have now been terminated from their positions, and Joe Kasper, chief of staff, is reportedly preparing to resign in the coming days, according to sources.
Key Staffers Dismissed Following Investigation
The departures of Selnick, Caldwell, and Carroll follow an internal Pentagon investigation into alleged leaks of sensitive information. Kasper’s impending resignation adds further disruption within the Defense Department. The Pentagon has been contacted for comment regarding these personnel changes.
Resignation of Chief of Staff Kasper
Joe Kasper’s planned departure is noteworthy, considering he initiated the investigation into multiple information leaks from the Pentagon the previous month. An anonymous source commented on Kasper’s relationship with Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll, stating, “Joe didn’t like those guys… They all have different styles. They just didn’t get along. It was a personality clash.”
Top Defense aides Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick have been terminated after allegedly being identified during the leak investigation
Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary, has also been fired as part of a leak investigation
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Leadership Void in Defense Department
The dismissals have created significant vacancies in key roles within the Defense Department, particularly within the office of a prominent defense official. “There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretary’s leadership,” remarked a former defense official. They further added, “Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who don’t have his interests at heart.”
Trump Administration’s Stance on Leaks
Former President Donald Trump previously voiced strong opposition to unauthorized disclosures of information related to his administration and urged investigations to identify those responsible for leaks.
Carroll’s suspension occurred a day after Caldwell and Selnick were removed from their posts, according to reports. The internal Pentagon inquiry centers on potential unauthorized disclosures of classified information.
Caldwell and Selnick were placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon by security personnel earlier in the week. A defense source described the events to CNN as “a purge of people who had disagreements with the Pentagon chief of staff.”
‘Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who don’t have his interests at heart,’ a defense official claimed
All three have since been let go and Hegseth’s Chief of Staff Joe Kasper is set to resign in the coming days
Colin Carroll’s Background
Colin Carroll possesses a background as a former Marine Corps intelligence officer with expertise in Artificial Intelligence. He is an alumnus of the United States Naval Academy and served in Afghanistan. Prior to his Pentagon position, Carroll was employed by Anduril, a defense contractor specializing in autonomous systems.
Controversy Surrounding Carroll’s Previous Role
Carroll’s tenure has been marked by controversy. He was reportedly asked to resign from a prior role by the Biden administration due to allegations of creating a hostile work environment while serving as chief operating officer of the Pentagon’s former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. An Inspector General investigation in 2021 examined Carroll’s treatment of employees based on complaints from staff, according to sources. Staff members reported to the IG that Carroll allegedly made disparaging remarks, labeling them as “not smart,” “dumb,” or “idiots,” and using expletives towards colleagues.
In response to the allegations, Carroll stated he was asked to resign but maintained that his actions were aimed at streamlining Department of Defense projects and overcoming bureaucratic obstacles. “I was three years too early in attempting to drive the necessary revolutionary change required to deliver tangible outcomes to warfighters,” Carroll commented.
Investigation Launched into Leaks
The Pentagon’s leak investigation was initiated on March 21st at the request of Kasper, who ordered the probe. The investigation encompassed military operational plans concerning various sensitive matters, including the Panama Canal, deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, a pause in intelligence gathering for Ukraine, and a reported leak regarding a meeting between Elon Musk and a defense official about U.S. war plans for China, according to an official.
The departures now leave a huge void of several key roles in Pete Hegseth’s Defense Department
Carroll told the outlet he was asked to resign but claimed he was winnowing down DOD projects, which frustrated some colleagues, and fighting against an entrenched bureaucracy
Kasper stated that the investigation would address “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information” and indicated the use of polygraph examinations in accordance with applicable law and policy. He affirmed that the investigation would “commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense” and that any individuals identified as responsible for unauthorized disclosures would be subject to potential criminal prosecution.
Kasper’s directive for the probe followed a New York Times report detailing a Pentagon briefing planned with Elon Musk concerning a potential conflict with China.
Dan Caldwell’s Role and Background
Dan Caldwell held a significant position as an advisor. He served as a key point of contact for a senior defense official within a messaging chat used by top Trump administration national security officials, including a Defense Secretary, to discuss plans for military action against Houthi militants in Yemen. This chat became public when a media editor was inadvertently added to the group.
Caldwell and the senior defense figure share a long-standing relationship that originated during the latter’s leadership of a veterans’ non-profit organization. Caldwell’s involvement with the organization began as policy director and subsequently evolved into the role of executive director.
Additionally, Caldwell provided support to the senior defense official during Capitol Hill proceedings when questions arose regarding the official’s conduct.
Darin Selnick’s Pentagon Service
Darin Selnick also held responsibilities similar to those of an Under Secretary of Defense. His prior government service includes roles within the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration. Selnick also has connections to the veterans’ non-profit organization, where he functioned as a senior advisor.
Shared Ideologies
The three dismissed aides share similar age ranges and a common perspective on foreign policy, aligning with isolationist viewpoints also held by prominent figures.