Hegseth removes Army general as Alaska Senate race draws spoiler scrutiny

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his role overseeing Pentagon planning, a move that landed just as the U.S. and Israel prepare for a new round of attacks against Iran. Sylvia also served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, though officials noted he was not directly involved in day-to-day operations for the Iran conflict. The removal follows a pattern of several generals and admirals being fired often without clear explanation, disrupting senior military operations.

The Pentagon is currently investigating a leak related to the situation but has not released specific details. NPR correspondent Greg Myre noted that the U.S. military posture in the region has shifted. The country currently has two aircraft carriers positioned in the Arabian Sea, with a third, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, already en route. Myre described the deployment of multiple carriers in one region as unusual, noting that the last time the U.S. stationed three in the Middle East was during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In Alaska, the state governor has ordered an investigation into the contentious U.S. Senate race after a New York Times report detailed efforts by Democratic campaign operatives. The report indicated that operatives were attempting to recruit a candidate who shares the name Dan Sullivan, the same name as the Republican incumbent. Republicans argue that a candidate with that name could confuse voters and siphon support away from the sitting senator. Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running to flip the seat.

Election law experts consulted by Alaska Public Media found no specific statutes that would ban the conduct described in the report. However, they noted that the actions crossed moral and ethical lines. The investigation comes as the race remains a toss-up heading into the final stretch of the campaign. Candidates are making final stops and delivering closing arguments, with President Trump shifting his strategy to virtual rallies to support at-risk Republicans.

Trump has been hosting 19 telerallies alongside in-person events, a shift that polling data suggests could help Democrats as much as Republicans. In other election-related developments, the Department of Justice has subpoenaed election workers in Los Angeles. This action occurs amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and California officials over efforts to identify noncitizens on voter rolls.

The changing political dynamics have also affected the national outlook for Senate races. While Democrats appeared unlikely to gain seats earlier in the cycle due to the number of red states, the ongoing war in Iran has altered the competitive landscape. In a separate housing issue, an investigation found that more than 15,000 veterans experienced monthly payment increases of at least $150 after the Trump administration shut down the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program. More than 700 veterans saw their payments rise by $1,000 or more after their loans were modified due to financial hardship.