Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Dismisses Top Pentagon Military Planner Amid Alleged Leaks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed the Pentagon’s top military planner, Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, following accusations that he leaked classified information concerning ongoing conflicts. The dismissal was confirmed by a Pentagon official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.
Sylvia served as the head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a critical post known in military circles as the “J5.” He is the second general to be removed from the position under Hegseth, following the forced retirement last October of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee.
According to the official, Sylvia was accused of misconduct involving the disclosure of classified details regarding the war with Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The official stated that Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the sharing of classified material with the press, and the case has been referred to the Department of Justice. No replacement has yet been named.
A spokesperson for the Joint Staff acknowledged the departure, stating that leadership and the Joint Force extend gratitude for Sylvia and his family’s 32 years of distinguished service.
The removal takes place as President Trump weighs renewed military operations against Iran during an eight-month-long conflict launched alongside Israel. The president has publicly stated that new strikes remain an option following upcoming midterm elections, while U.S. officials have advised regional allies in the Middle East to prepare for possible renewed action and potential Iranian retaliation. Deployment movements are already underway, with a third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops heading to the region.
Before taking on the J5 role, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, and previously served as the vice director for the J5. His official biography has since been taken offline.
Sylvia’s departure adds to a series of high-level military exits under Hegseth, which include nearly two dozen generals, admirals, civilian service secretaries for the Army and Navy, and other top uniformed officers. Most of these leadership changes have not been publicly explained by the Pentagon.
The leadership churn aligns with a broader reduction directive announced last month, in which Hegseth ordered the military to double planned cuts to top officers, aiming for a 20% decrease across the roughly 800 existing flag and general officer positions by Jan. 1, 2027. Addressing junior officers and enlisted personnel at the Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, Hegseth defended the initiative, stating, “I call it accountability and long overdue.”
The dismissals have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot, criticized the reductions last month as a damaging purge of experienced military leadership that would take a generation to recover from.
