The Pentagon has accused Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who was removed from his post late Wednesday, October 28, 2026, of leaking sensitive and classified information to the media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Sylvia from his position as head of strategy, plans, and policy for the Joint Staff. The matter has since been referred to the Department of Justice for potential legal action.
The dismissal is part of a series of leadership changes at the Pentagon under Secretary Hegseth. While an official reason for the firing was not initially provided, a Pentagon official speaking on the condition of anonymity stated that Sylvia is under investigation for allegedly sharing classified data regarding the wars in Iran and Ukraine, among other topics, with journalists. The official further claimed that Sylvia failed three polygraph tests related to the disclosure of classified information.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed in a social media post that the department took "necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information," though he did not name Sylvia directly. A colleague of the general stated that while Sylvia acknowledged interacting with journalists, he has repeatedly denied leaking any classified information. On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Joint Staff withdrew a previous statement that had thanked Sylvia for his service, noting that it did not "appropriately reflect the full circumstances."
The scale of the alleged leaks involves information regarding two active international conflicts, though the specific number of documents or the exact duration of the alleged activity was not reported. For federal workers and military personnel, the action emphasizes a focus on internal security and the consequences of unauthorized media contact. President Trump stated on October 29 that the administration is "very much looking for leakers."
The day-to-day impact for the public is indirect, though the outcome of the Justice Department referral could influence future legal handling of classified information. What happens next depends on whether the Justice Department decides to pursue criminal charges against Sylvia. As of October 29, 2026, no specific court dates or deadlines for a grand jury or indictment have been reported.
In a comment to reporters on Thursday, October 29, 2026, President Trump spoke about the situation, stating, "She's gonna have big problems," incorrectly using a female pronoun to refer to the male general. The Joint Staff has not yet announced a permanent successor for the strategy, plans, and policy post.