Joe Kasper, chief of staff to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is reportedly stepping down from his role within days, according to a senior administration official cited by Politico. Kasper is expected to transition to another position within the department as an investigation unfolds into the handling of official communications.

The reported departure comes amid a widening internal probe led by the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General, which announced last week that it has launched an evaluation into the use of a “commercially available messaging application” by senior officials for official government business. This evaluation aims to determine whether the use of such platforms violated federal protocols or compromised security standards.

In addition to Kasper’s upcoming exit, several high-level aides have been placed on administrative leave. These include Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to the defense secretary; Darin Selnick, the deputy chief of staff; and Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.

The investigation has intensified scrutiny over digital communication practices within the Pentagon and raised concerns about transparency and data security. The use of unofficial messaging services for sensitive or official discussions has long been a controversial topic in Washington, drawing bipartisan concern over potential violations of federal records laws and security regulations.

While the Department of Defense has not released formal statements regarding the individual personnel decisions, the coordinated timing of the departures suggests a significant leadership shake-up as the internal review progresses. Secretary Hegseth has not yet publicly addressed the situation.

This development marks a critical moment for the DoD as it navigates internal accountability, public perception, and the implementation of secure communication policies. More updates are expected as the Inspector General’s office advances its evaluation.