Former Pentagon aide Dan Caldwell, who was previously removed from his role amid an investigation into potential leaks, was hired by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
Caldwell, who previously served as Senior Adviser to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, was hired to serve in an advisory role where he will support Intelligence Coordination and the President’s Daily Brief, according to The New York Times. The former aide was abruptly fired in April 2025 after being accused of unauthorized disclosures of classified information along with Deputy Defense Secretary Colin Caroll and Hegseth’s Chief of Staff, Darin Selnick, according to The Hill.
“Any individual who is hired by ODNI goes through an extensive background review, including record checks and personal interviews, with a trained official to ensure the individual is trustworthy and does not pose a threat to national security,” an ODNI spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation, adding there was no evidence Caldwell leaked any documents.
Officials cleared Caldwell and his two other colleagues of any wrongdoing Monday night after an 11-month investigation.
The former aide’s new appointment generated praise among Republicans, including Donald Trump Jr., who called Caldwell a “America First warrior,” in a statement released by The New York Times.
“This is great news. Congrats Dan,” Journalist Megyn Kelly wrote on X, responding to a post announcing Caldwell’s new role.
After his firing, Caldwell later appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show, maintained his innocence, and noted foreign policy differences with the administration.
“A war with Iran risks being incredibly costly in terms of lives and dollars and instability in the Middle East,” Caldwell told Carlson.
Before working for the Pentagon, Caldwell served with the United States Marines, where he was deployed to Iraq during “Operation Iraqi Freedom”.
Caldwell’s appointment comes as National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent announced his resignation, citing his opposition to the war with Iran.
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