Hegseth Staffers Fired in Pentagon Leak Probe

DOD Deputy Chief of Staff Placed on Administrative Leave

On Tuesday, April 15, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) placed its deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick, on administrative leave following the earlier removal of another Pentagon official. 
A senior U.S. official confirmed the action to Fox News, stating that Selnick, who serves as the deputy to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed under investigation.
This incident is the latest scandal to surround Hegseth in the wider probe, which includes another associate on his staff. 
Here's everything you need to know about the DOD shake-up as the investigation takes off.
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Selnick Under Investigation for Leak Probe

According to the New York Post, Darin Selnick's leave comes as part of the same leak investigation that led to the departure of Pete Hegseth's aide Dan Caldwell. 
Caldwell was escorted out of the Pentagon by security earlier in the day. 
Both Selnick and Caldwell are now on administrative leave as part of the probe into unauthorized disclosures of national security information.

Selnick's Background and Role

According to the Pentagon's website, Darin Selnick is a retired Air Force officer with a strong background in veterans' affairs. 
His biography states, "Mr. Selnick leverages his extensive government and non-government experience advocating for veterans to position Service members for productive post-separation lives from the first day they put on a uniform." 
In addition to his role at the Pentagon, both Selnick and Dan Caldwell previously worked for Concerned Veterans for America, a group that was once led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Caldwell's Leave Linked to Unauthorized Disclosure

Dan Caldwell was reportedly placed on leave for an "unauthorized disclosure" as part of the ongoing investigation into leaked Pentagon documents. 
The investigation, which was announced last month, focuses on recent unauthorized leaks of national security information. 
According to DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, "The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy." He further emphasized that the investigation will begin immediately, culminating in a report to the Secretary of Defense.
"I expect 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," Kasper wrote. 

Leak Investigation Details and Allegations

An official revealed that the leak being investigated involves sensitive issues, including plans for the Panama Canal and details surrounding Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon, among other matters. 
The leak probe has raised serious concerns within the Pentagon, with high-level personnel now under scrutiny.