US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s senior military planner, over accusations that he leaked classified information, officials said on Thursday, October 29.
The firing is the latest and highest-profile consequence so far of Hegseth’s sweeping hunt for officials suspected of leaking information to the news media, as the US war with Iran enters its ninth month.
A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, accused Sylvia of failing three polygraph examinations that questioned him about leaking classified information. The official said Sylvia was the subject of an investigation covering alleged leaks about the Iran war, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and more, and that he had begun meeting journalists outside the Pentagon to disclose classified information, circumventing a Pentagon media policy requiring journalists to be escorted inside the building.
“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,” the official said.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, said the decision followed an extensive investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action,” Parnell said, without identifying other officials who may also be targeted.
What is alleged — and what is not confirmed
It is important to be precise about the status of these claims. Sylvia has been accused by Pentagon officials; he has not been charged, and the investigation remains ongoing. Sylvia could not be immediately reached for comment, according to Reuters. The allegations themselves — including the claim that he failed three polygraphs — have not been independently verified by the reporting outlets, and they rest on statements from Pentagon officials, including one speaking anonymously.
A spokesperson for the Joint Staff withdrew an initial statement expressing gratitude for Sylvia’s 32 years of service, saying “we determined the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances.” The spokesperson added: “Out of respect for the service member and the ongoing personnel process, we will not comment further.”
President Donald Trump, who misidentified Sylvia as a woman when speaking to reporters, said the ousted general has “got problems.” “We’re very much looking for leakers, and she’s going to have big problems, long-term problems,” Trump said.
The J5 role Sylvia held
Sylvia led the Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy at the Joint Staff, known inside the military as the J5 — a key position that helps advise General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously led the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division, a post he held until May 2025, and earlier served as vice director of the J5 office.
His dismissal was first reported by The Atlantic magazine, before the Pentagon gave its reason. That earlier report is the background to Emadan’s previous coverage, which noted that no reason had been given at the time.
One Pentagon official stressed that Sylvia, despite his title, was not the “central planner” for the Iran war — that responsibility sits with US Central Command and its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper. Sylvia is the second person to be removed from the J5 role under Hegseth; his predecessor was forced to retire in October last year. No replacement for Sylvia has been announced.
A wider leak hunt
Sylvia’s removal comes as the US military plans for a potential resumption of intensive bombings in Iran, which Trump has called “another little Epic Fury.” The Pentagon has fumed about leaks during the Iran war, including about its planning and the expenditure of munitions. Reuters reported on Wednesday that an internal US military analysis estimates it would cost more than $29 billion in munitions alone to restock weapons used against Iran so far — the bulk of the more than $47 billion spent on operations in the war.
Hegseth’s leak effort includes a Pentagon task force to identify the sources of leaks and the widespread use of polygraph examinations on senior officials. Last year, he introduced a media policy that raised legal concerns among press organisations, and revoked the press credentials of journalists who refused to sign it. Three senior defence officials were placed on administrative leave last year and subsequently fired following accusations of leaking: Dan Caldwell, a former senior adviser to Hegseth; Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff; and Colin Carroll, former chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.
What happens next
The Justice Department referral means prosecutors will decide whether any further legal action follows; no charges have been announced. The Pentagon has not named a successor, and the Joint Staff has said it will not comment further while the personnel process is ongoing. Any further official statement, a response from Sylvia, or a charging decision would be a new development in this story.
Sources
FAQ
Was Brett Sylvia charged with a crime?
No charges have been announced. The Pentagon said the matter has been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What did the Pentagon accuse him of?
Pentagon officials accused Sylvia of leaking classified information about the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine war and more, and said he failed three polygraph examinations about leaking. These are accusations from officials, not proven findings, and Sylvia has not publicly responded.
Why does this firing matter now?
Sylvia held the J5 strategy and plans role advising the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his removal comes as the US weighs renewed military operations against Iran — making the Pentagon’s leak hunt and its top planning vacancy strategically significant.
