Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top military planner, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. A Department of Defense (DOD) official stated that the removal followed an investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
Sylvia served as the director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Staff, a role known as the J5. According to a Pentagon official, the department accused Sylvia of misconduct after he allegedly failed three polygraph tests concerning the sharing of sensitive data with the press. The official further stated that Sylvia met with journalists outside the Pentagon to bypass media escort policies.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the action on Thursday, Oct. 29, citing an "extensive Air Force OSI [Office of Special Investigations] investigation." Parnell stated that the case, along with others, has been referred to the Department of Justice for potential legal action. While the DOD spokesperson characterized the firing as a response to "severe misconduct," two other Pentagon sources told CBS News that the accusations regarding the polygraph results were not true.
The Joint Staff initially issued a statement expressing gratitude for Sylvia's 32-year military career, which included a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. However, a spokesperson later retracted that message, stating it "did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances" and declined further comment due to the ongoing personnel process. Sylvia is the second J5 director to be removed during Hegseth's tenure, following the forced retirement of Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee in October 2025.
The dismissal affects the leadership of the Joint Staff, the body of senior uniformed leaders in the Department of Defense who advise the President and Secretary of Defense. Specifically, it impacts the "J5" office, which is responsible for long-term military strategy and planning. The firing removes a three-star general with 32 years of service, including experience as commander of the 101st Airborne Division, at a time when the administration is reportedly weighing future military strikes in Iran. A DOD official stated that while Sylvia was a planner, he was not the "central planner" for the Iran War, a responsibility held by U.S. Central Command.
Secretary Hegseth has made rooting out leakers a priority. Last year, three other senior officials—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—were placed on leave and subsequently fired. While the specific number of documents allegedly leaked was not reported, the DOD official described the situation as "critical" to national security, leading to the immediate termination of the officer.
For military personnel and federal workers, this action reinforces a stated "zero tolerance" policy for unauthorized disclosures. The referral to the Department of Justice means the matter has transitioned from an internal military personnel action to a potential federal criminal case. The Pentagon has not yet named a successor for the J5 position, and the Department of Justice has not announced specific charges or court dates as of Oct. 29.