Hegseth Fires Pentagon Strategy Chief Over Alleged Leaks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon's top military strategy planner, over allegations that he leaked classified information concerning the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war. A Pentagon official told CBS News late Wednesday that Sylvia faced misconduct allegations after allegedly sharing sensitive information with the media.

The official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters, said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the alleged disclosure of classified information to journalists. The case has been referred to the Department of Justice, the official added.

Sylvia was removed from his position as director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a role commonly known as the J5. According to The Associated Press, the Pentagon has not named a replacement. The Atlantic reported the dismissal earlier.

A Joint Staff spokesperson acknowledged Sylvia's departure and recognized his decades of military service.

"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" and they "wish him and his family the best."

Sylvia's removal comes as President Donald Trump considers further military action against Iran, where the war involving the United States and Israel has continued for eight months. The president has vowed to "finish the job" in Iran and has said additional strikes remain an option after next week's midterm elections.

US officials have reportedly advised several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed military operations following Tuesday's elections, as well as potential Iranian retaliation. A third US aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are heading to the region.

The J5 director and staff typically develop and coordinate military plans with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president. Sylvia previously commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, according to his official biography. He also served as vice director of the J5.

Sylvia is the second general removed from the J5 position under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.

His dismissal also adds to a broader series of departures among senior military leaders during Hegseth's tenure. Nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other military leaders have been dismissed, forced to retire or otherwise left their positions, while the Pentagon has publicly explained few of the changes. The departures have included the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy and senior uniformed officers across the military services.

Hegseth announced last month that he had ordered a doubling of planned reductions among senior military officers, targeting a 20% decrease by Jan. 1, 2027. Approximately 800 general and flag officer positions currently exist across the US military.

At Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, Hegseth defended the reductions as a matter of responsibility and reform.

"I call it accountability and long overdue," Hegseth told junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30.

Some members of Congress have criticized the reductions, describing them as a purge that could take years to reverse. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and former Navy combat pilot who has criticized Hegseth, raised concerns about the long-term effects on military leadership.

"He's got some kind of like deep-seated grievance about leadership in the military," Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot who has been critical of Hegseth, said last month. "He's purging a generation of great leaders of the military, and it's going to take a generation to recover from it."