Three Pentagon Appointees Suspended in Leak Investigation Fallout/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, has become the third Pentagon official placed on administrative leave amid an internal leak investigation. The suspensions follow allegations of unauthorized disclosures and escalating tensions within Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership team. The controversy has drawn scrutiny following revelations that Hegseth shared classified information in an unsecured chat.
Pentagon Purge – Quick Looks
- Colin Carroll, top aide to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, placed on leave.
- Two other Trump-era appointees, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were suspended earlier this week.
- Defense officials say the actions stem from conflicts with Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper.
- A March memo from Kasper ordered leak investigations using polygraph tests.
- Carroll previously worked at Anduril Industries and the Pentagon’s AI center.
- Caldwell reportedly under investigation for unauthorized information disclosure.
- Hegseth shared classified military details in a Signal chat that mistakenly included a reporter.
- Defense officials warn such behavior would trigger court-martial if done by military personnel.
- The internal turmoil highlights growing tension inside Trump’s Pentagon.
- Calls grow for accountability amid concerns over national security breaches.
Pentagon Turmoil Grows as Third Trump-Era Appointee Placed on Leave During Leak Probe
DEEP LOOKS
Washington (CNN) – The Pentagon’s internal power struggle intensified this week as a third senior appointee in the Department of Defense was placed on administrative leave, deepening a widening investigation into alleged unauthorized disclosures and internal friction under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership.
Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, was escorted out of the Pentagon, according to two defense sources who confirmed the action on Wednesday. Carroll’s departure follows the suspension of senior adviser Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick—both senior appointees closely linked to the Trump-aligned defense leadership.
A Power Struggle Behind the Scenes
According to one defense official speaking anonymously, the suspensions represent more than just security concerns—they’re the result of an internal purge.
“This is a purge of people who had disagreements with the Pentagon chief of staff,” the source told CNN, referring to Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s chief of staff and a central figure in the current investigation.
Kasper, in a March 21 memo, formally ordered an inquiry into leaks, demanding the use of polygraph testing for involved personnel. The memo made clear that any individuals identified as responsible would be referred to law enforcement for criminal prosecution.
Who Is Colin Carroll?
Carroll, who took his post in January 2025, had previously held positions at the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and defense tech company Anduril Industries. While no official reason has been provided for his administrative leave, sources say the move is part of a broader conflict brewing within the top echelons of the Pentagon.
Other Officials Under Fire
Earlier this week, Dan Caldwell was suspended over what sources described as an alleged unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. Meanwhile, Darin Selnick’s removal appears connected to similar concerns but has not yet been officially detailed.
The Defense Department has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the status of the investigations or the officials involved.
Classified Info Shared on Signal Chat
The latest scandal comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth himself was accused of sharing classified military operations data in a Signal group chat that unintentionally included a journalist. The chat also featured National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and even President Donald Trump.
Though officials close to Hegseth have tried to downplay the nature of the information, multiple defense insiders told CNN the content was highly sensitive, and its exposure posed a risk to U.S. service members involved in ongoing military operations.
“Anybody in uniform would be court-martialed for this,” one defense official told CNN. “We don’t provide that level of detail on unclassified systems. It would be wholly irresponsible.”
Escalating Internal Crisis
The growing number of suspensions and disciplinary actions reflects an increasingly unstable environment within Trump’s Pentagon, where ideological divides, personality clashes, and questions of loyalty are fueling internal investigations.
While the Trump administration continues to back Hegseth and his leadership, national security experts warn that the controversies could undermine military morale, intelligence security, and public confidence in defense oversight.
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