US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, who headed the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Staff of the US Armed Forces. The military officer is suspected of leaking classified information to journalists concerning the war against Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
CBS News reported this on October 29, citing sources in the Pentagon. CNN sources also confirmed the dismissal.
According to a defense official, Sylvia failed a polygraph examination three times in connection with alleged disclosures of classified information to media representatives. Investigative materials have been sent to the US Department of Justice to determine whether further legal action is needed.
However, the allegations remain disputed. Two other Pentagon sources told CBS News that the dismissal was related to the polygraph results but stated that suspicions of leaks were untrue.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that after an extensive investigation by the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the department took necessary personnel actions to protect classified information.
Parnell did not name the fired general and declined to disclose details of the investigation. He confirmed that materials were referred to the Department of Justice, emphasizing that disclosure of classified information constitutes a serious breach of trust.
No official evidence linking Sylvia to leaks has been released. No criminal charges against him have been reported either.
Brett Sylvia led the J5 directorate, responsible for developing and coordinating military plans with the Joint Chiefs of Staff leadership and the US presidential administration.
His dismissal came amid discussions by the White House about resuming strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm congressional elections. Sylvia participated in strategic planning related to the Iranian conflict, although a Pentagon official says the US Central Command is directly in charge of the relevant operations.
Sylvia became the second J5 director to leave the post under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lieutenant General Joseph McGee, was forced to resign in October 2025. The name of the new director has not yet been announced.
After news of the dismissal surfaced, the Joint Staff initially released a statement thanking Sylvia for 32 years of military service. However, the department later retracted it, saying the wording did not reflect all circumstances of the personnel decision.
Before his Pentagon appointment, Sylvia commanded the US Army's 101st Airborne Division. He served in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, was wounded in combat, and received several US state awards.
The dismissal was part of sweeping personnel changes in the senior US military leadership. During Hegseth's tenure as defense secretary, nearly two dozen generals, admirals, and other senior military leaders have left their posts.
In September, Hegseth also ordered an acceleration in cutting the number of general and admiral positions, setting a goal to reduce them by 20% by January 1, 2027.
The Pentagon explains personnel decisions by the need to increase accountability and management efficiency. Some US lawmakers, on the contrary, express concern about the scale of dismissals and possible consequences for military planning.
Source materials: CBS News, CNN, The Atlantic.
