Washington – The Department of Defense is facing internal turmoil as another senior official is placed on administrative leave. Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, is the latest appointee to face this action.

Sources within the defense department revealed that Carroll was escorted out of the Pentagon, linking his leave to disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff Joe Kasper. This move marks the third high-ranking official to be placed on administrative leave in recent days.

Carroll, who took office in January, previously worked at defense contractor Anduril Industries and the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. His leave follows similar actions taken against senior adviser Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick for alleged unauthorized disclosures.

Hegseth has been scrutinized for his handling of sensitive military information after details of a military operation were shared in a group chat that included a reporter. The incident raised concerns about the sharing of classified information and the safety of service members involved in operations.

Kasper has ordered an investigation into unauthorized disclosures, emphasizing the importance of protecting classified information to safeguard service members. The probes come amidst heightened tensions within the Defense Department and concerns about internal disagreements affecting the department’s operations.

The recent actions within the Department of Defense highlight the challenges of maintaining security and confidentiality in a sensitive environment. As investigations continue and officials are held accountable for breaches of protocol, the department faces scrutiny over its handling of classified information and the implications for national security.