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Pentagon Adviser Dan Caldwell Removed Over Leak Investigation

Defense Department confirms Caldwell's administrative leave as part of ongoing probe into unauthorized disclosures tied to Signal group chat on Yemen strike planning.

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The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
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Overview

  • Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was escorted out of the Pentagon and placed on administrative leave on April 15, 2025, for an alleged unauthorized disclosure.
  • The investigation stems from a Signal group chat leak involving discussions of U.S. military strike planning against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which included Caldwell as a key contact point.
  • A March 21 memo from Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, initiated the probe into leaks of sensitive national security information, with potential for polygraph testing and criminal referrals.
  • Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran with a history at conservative think tanks, has been criticized for his isolationist views and past opposition to U.S. military interventions like the Iraq War.
  • The investigation, part of a broader Trump administration crackdown on leaks, remains ongoing, with details about the nature and recipients of the disclosure yet to be clarified.