The White House's top communications aide is stepping down at the end of the month and will be replaced by her deputy.

White House officials say Anita Dunn will leave her West Wing office but remain an adviser to President Barack Obama. Dan Pfeiffer will become communications director for the White House.

The officials described the move on the condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

Dunn, a veteran political operative, took the job on an interim basis earlier this year after the White House's first communications director, Ellen Moran, stepped down to take a job at the Commerce Department. The move was first reported on The Washington Post's Web site.