Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's crackdown on information leaks at the Pentagon intensifies as another high-ranking official faces suspension.

According to the Daily Mail, Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, becomes the third official suspended in an ongoing investigation into unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

The internal probe, which began on March 21, focuses on leaks concerning military operational plans for the Panama Canal, Red Sea carrier deployment, Ukraine intelligence collection, and discussions about U.S. war plans for China with Elon Musk. Carroll's suspension follows the administrative leave and escort removal of two other political appointees, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, from the Pentagon.

Three Pentagon officials face serious allegations

The investigation was initiated by Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, who emphasized the use of polygraph tests to examine recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information. The probe aims to identify individuals responsible for leaks and refers cases for criminal prosecution when appropriate.

Carroll, a former Marine Corps intelligence officer with extensive AI experience and Afghanistan service record, previously worked at defense contractor Anduril. His professional history includes a controversial tenure at the Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, where he was fired by the Biden administration.

A defense source shared insights about the situation with CNN, stating, "This is a purge of people who had disagreements with the Pentagon chief of staff."

Key players share common background

The three suspended officials share several characteristics that link them together. All are close in age and maintain isolationist foreign policy views, aligning with Vice President J.D. Vance and Don Trump Jr.'s perspectives.

Caldwell played a crucial role in Hegseth's administration, serving as the point person in a Signal messaging chat used by top officials to discuss military strikes against Houthi militants. The chat gained attention when The Atlantic's editor-in-chief was accidentally added to the group.

Selnick's responsibilities included serving as the under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. Both Caldwell and Selnick previously worked with Hegseth at Concerned Veterans for America, establishing long-standing professional relationships.

Communication breaches lead to serious consequences

The investigation specifically examines multiple leaked items, including sensitive information about military operations and high-level meetings. The unauthorized disclosure about a planned briefing with Elon Musk regarding potential war with China particularly sparked concern.

Carroll's previous workplace conduct has also come under scrutiny. During his time at the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, an inspector general investigation revealed complaints about his treatment of employees, with staff reporting incidents of verbal abuse and hostile behavior.

According to Politico, Carroll addressed these allegations by stating:

I was three years too early in attempting to drive the necessary revolutionary change required to deliver tangible outcomes to warfighters.

Security measures intensify amid ongoing probe

The Pentagon's security protocols have significantly tightened following these incidents. The investigation employs polygraph tests within legal boundaries, demonstrating the seriousness of the security breach concerns. Defense Secretary Hegseth's administration shows a determination to identify and address unauthorized information sharing. This reflects President Donald Trump's strong stance against leakers within his administration. As the investigation continues, three senior Pentagon officials remain suspended from their duties. The probe centers on unauthorized disclosures of classified information, particularly concerning military operational plans and strategic discussions about potential conflicts.