Pentagon: Top Military Planner Ousted Over Iran War Leaks
Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia failed three polygraph tests and has been removed from his role as J5 director as the administration prepares for potential new strikes against Iran.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s senior military planner, late Wednesday. A Pentagon official told CBS News that Sylvia was accused of misconduct for sharing classified information related to the war in Iran with media outlets. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the release of classified data. The Department of Justice has now reviewed the case.
Sylvia served as the director for strategy, plans, and policy, a position known as J5, on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is the second general removed from this post under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced into retirement last October. A Joint Staff spokesperson thanked Sylvia and his family for 32 years of service, noting they wish them the best. No replacement has been named for the J5 role.
The dismissal occurs as President Trump weighs renewed military action against Iran. The president, who launched the conflict with Israel eight months ago, has stated that new strikes are an option following the midterm elections scheduled for next week. U.S. officials have briefed several Middle East nations and regional allies on the possibility of post-election operations and Iranian retaliation. A third aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are currently moving to the region.
Sylvia previously commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. He also served as vice director for J5 before his appointment. His official biography has been taken offline by the Pentagon. Sylvia is the latest in a series of high-ranking departures, with nearly two dozen generals, admirals, and other leaders leaving or being fired under Hegseth. The Pentagon has rarely explained these moves publicly, which include the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy.
Hegseth ordered a 20% reduction in top officer positions in September, a target to be met by January 1, 2027. The military currently holds roughly 800 flag and general officer slots. At a speech to Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, Hegseth described the cuts as a long-overdue measure of accountability. Some members of Congress have criticized the reductions as a purge that will take years to reverse.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot, said last month that Hegseth holds a deep-seated grievance against military leadership. Kelly argued that the administration is removing a generation of leaders, creating a deficit that will take a generation to recover.
