Top Pentagon Official Darin Selnick Placed on Leave Amid Military Leak Investigation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has placed Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick on administrative leave amid an escalating investigation into unauthorized disclosures of sensitive military information, according to reports confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
Selnick, a decorated Air Force veteran and former senior adviser to Concerned Veterans for America, was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday. The move follows the earlier suspension of Dan Caldwell, another senior adviser to Hegseth, signaling a widening probe into possible leaks within the Department of Defense.
Investigative Focus: Red Sea, Panama Canal, and Ukraine Intelligence
According to Politico, the investigation is focused on unauthorized disclosures involving:
- Military operational plans for the Panama Canal
- Deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Red Sea
- Intelligence pauses related to Ukraine
- Elon Musk’s recent classified visit to the Pentagon
These leaks are considered highly sensitive, particularly as they relate to ongoing strategic military planning and high-level diplomatic activity.
Internal Crackdown
The Trump administration has intensified efforts to stamp out internal leaks across government agencies, with the Department of Defense now under heightened scrutiny. A March memo signed by Hegseth’s chief of staff directed the Pentagon’s Director for Defense Intelligence to initiate polygraph screenings and other security protocols to identify potential breaches.
Political Implications and Fallout
Selnick’s sudden removal from the building underscores the seriousness of the probe. Though no formal charges have yet been filed, administrative leave is often a preliminary step while an internal investigation unfolds. Sources suggest more personnel may be scrutinized in the coming days.
The Pentagon has not issued an official statement regarding the nature of the leaks or whether additional disciplinary actions are forthcoming. However, the Trump administration has made it clear that national security leaks will be treated as criminal matters if necessary.
This is a developing story and further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
