Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff this week, several sources confirmed late Wednesday.1,7,8
The essential dispute is why he was removed. CBS News reported, citing a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity, that Sylvia was accused of misconduct for allegedly leaking classified information related to the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war. The official said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests about sharing classified information with the press and that the case has been referred to the Department of Justice.1
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell did not name Sylvia in a statement on social media but said that "following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information." He added, "To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action," and said, "This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action. Classified information is not personal property. Leaking it for personal, political or professional gain is a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for keeping it. Our commitment was not an empty promise. We vowed to find you, and we meant it."1
That account is disputed. Two other Pentagon sources confirmed to CBS News that the firing was related to the polygraph tests, but said those accusations are not true. A department official speaking to the Daily Wire said Hegseth had terminated Sylvia for what was termed "severe misconduct" and for meeting with journalists outside the Pentagon and leaking classified information pertaining to ongoing conflicts in Iran and between Russia and Ukraine.1,8
The reports also differ on Sylvia's role in Iran planning. CBS News described him as coordinating the Iran battle plan in his post as head of strategy, plans and policy, known as the J5, which it described as the lead on how the Iran war affects long-term planning. The Daily Wire reported, citing the department official, that "Although Sylvia's title was director of the Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, known inside the military as the J5, he was NOT a central planner for the Iran War. That is the responsibility of CENTCOM and its commander Admiral Cooper."1,8
The same official said, "Due to the Pentagon's media policy requiring journalists to have escorts in the building, Sylvia began meeting with journalists outside of the Pentagon in order to leak classified information." The official also said, "Sylvia failed three polygraphs which questioned him about leaking classified information. The investigation into him remains ongoing and has been referred to the Department of Justice for further action. The extent of his leaking became so critical that Secretary Hegseth took immediate action and fired Sylvia in order to protect national security. Urgent action was needed and could not wait another second."8
The handling of the announcement itself shifted. A spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement to The Atlantic, which first reported the news, "The Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend our deepest gratitude to Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service to our nation," adding, "We wish him and his family the best as they graduate to new opportunities and the next chapters of their lives." The Joint Staff then retracted that statement and issued a new one saying, "Upon further review, we determined that the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances," and "Out of respect for the servicemember and the ongoing personnel process we will not comment further." No replacement for Sylvia has been named.1,3
Sylvia is the second general under Hegseth to be removed from the J5 post, which advises and assists the Joint Chiefs chairman in evaluating long-term military strategy, including laying out possible outcomes, weighing costs and benefits and planning for contingencies. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire in October 2025, and the Daily Wire reported that McGee had been tapped for promotion to director of the Joint Staff by former President Joe Biden but his promotion stalled when President Donald Trump did not renominate him after returning to the White House in 2025.1,8
Sylvia is a former commander of the 101st Airborne Division with multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, earned a Bronze Star for Valor and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in a gunfight with the Taliban in a combat career that spanned 32 years. The New Republic, citing the firing, described him as at least the twenty-sixth senior military official to be ousted by Hegseth this year.1,3
The New Republic also noted that Sylvia had been criticized more than a year ago by Laura Loomer, who had called for review of his employment because of comments posted by his son Gavin after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Loomer wrote, "His father is a Major General in the United States Army and currently serves at the Pentagon. He was nominated for a third star by Joe Biden.... These people hate us. They don't belong near the levers of our National Power.... Please fire Gavin Sylvia... [and] [@PeteHegseth] should also review the employment of Gavin's father, MG Brett Sylvia."3
Hegseth has made rooting out leakers at the Pentagon a priority, with sources telling CBS News last month that high-ranking military officials were subject to polygraph tests. Three staffers from his office were escorted out last year amid a leak investigation, but the Pentagon never released the results of any investigation.1
The removal comes as Trump weighs resuming strikes against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to CBS News, a context also noted by France 24, which said Trump appears to be preparing to resume large-scale strikes against Iran. France 24 said his ouster would be the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the military since Trump returned to power a year ago. It has been referred for potential further legal action.1,7
