WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the chief strategic planner on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accusing him of leaking classified military secrets to journalists, defense officials said.
Sylvia, who served as director of Strategy, Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff, has also been referred to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution, according to Pentagon statements.
Allegations of War Strategy Leaks
Officials alleged that Sylvia met reporters outside the Pentagon to improperly share classified details surrounding multiple conflicts, including the war in Iran and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. An unnamed Department of Defense official told Al Jazeera that Sylvia was the military’s chief planner but was not the primary architect of the Iran campaign, which falls under U.S. Central Command.
A senior defense official told Reuters that Sylvia was dismissed after failing three separate polygraph examinations regarding unauthorized disclosures to reporters. The official claimed the extent of the disclosures posed a severe risk to national security and demanded immediate action.
In a social media statement Thursday, Sean Parnell, the assistant to the defense secretary for public affairs, confirmed that the department took personnel action following an inquiry by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Parnell did not mention Sylvia by name, writing that the step was necessary to protect sensitive materials and that matters had been forwarded to the Justice Department.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department confirmed in a statement that it maintains active investigations into unauthorized disclosures, working in coordination with defense officials.
Decorated Career and Pushback
Sylvia, a 32-year military veteran, previously commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025 and earlier served as vice director of the Joint Staff strategy office. His decorations include a Purple Heart and six Bronze Star Medals, one awarded for valor.
A Pentagon spokesman stated that the chairman and Joint Staff extended their appreciation to Sylvia and his family for his decades of military service.
While defense officials cited polygraph results and unauthorized disclosures, a colleague of Sylvia told The Washington Post that the general consistently denied leaking classified information, though he acknowledged speaking with reporters in the past.
Broader Crackdown on Disclosures
Sylvia is the second director of the strategy directorate, widely known as the J5, to be removed since Hegseth became defense secretary. His predecessor was forced into retirement in October 2025. Hegseth also dismissed three personal aides last year as part of a wide-ranging effort to halt media leaks.
The removal comes amid heightened friction between defense leadership and the press corps. Hegseth instituted tightened Pentagon access policies last year that prompted dozens of journalists to surrender their credentials. In July, defense and justice officials established a joint task force specifically aimed at investigating and prosecuting unauthorized press disclosures.
The Pentagon has not yet announced an interim or permanent successor to lead the strategy directorate, an official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The Justice Department has not announced any formal charges, and it remains unknown whether federal prosecutors will seek an indictment.
