Pentagon dismisses Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia in leak probe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his role as the Army chief of the Pentagon’s strategic planning office. Officials who were not authorized to speak publicly stated that Sylvia is the subject of a leak investigation. The dismissal marks the latest personnel change at the Department of Defense under Hegseth’s leadership.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the investigation in a statement released shortly after the news emerged. The statement noted that the Air Force Office of Special Investigations oversaw the probe into the release of classified information. The matter has been referred to the Justice Department for possible legal action. Officials alleged that Sylvia released information regarding Iran and Ukraine to reporters, but they provided no specific details on the content of the leaks.

Sylvia, a West Point graduate, held the planning position for less than a year. He previously commanded the 101st Airborne Division and served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. His record includes a Purple Heart and six Bronze Star medals, one of which was awarded for valor. The general’s dismissal joins a list of approximately two dozen senior officers who have been let go without public explanation.

The leak investigation follows a similar incident involving Hegseth himself. A Pentagon inspector general found that the secretary shared classified information about airstrikes in Yemen over a Signal chat. The chat included his wife and brother, who did not hold top-secret clearances. The information included aircraft launch times and strike times. The inspector general determined that the transmission could have imperiled U.S. service members if intercepted. President Trump supported Hegseth at the time, despite calls for his replacement.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ involvement suggests the probe is linked to air strikes over Iran. Thousands of strikes began earlier this year from airfields in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The specific role of Sylvia’s office covers broad strategic planning, policy development, and long-term assessment. Day-to-day operations for the current conflict with Iran fall under Admiral Brad Cooper, the top officer at Central Command.

Hegseth’s approach to leaks has altered the atmosphere within the department. He has not held a press briefing since early May, relying instead on background briefings for reporters. Staff on Capitol Hill report that they are often kept in the dark on military matters. The secretary has fired civilian staff and threatened military officers with polygraphs following reports of infighting among his personnel.

The dismissal comes amid ongoing friction between the Pentagon and Congress. According to a Hill staffer, lawmakers are considering language for the defense bill that would prohibit firing military personnel without first notifying lawmakers. This legislative effort aims to address concerns over unilateral executive decisions regarding senior military leadership.

Sylvia’s removal occurs while the U.S. remains engaged in a contentious conflict with Iran. The general’s specific duties did not involve direct operational command of the current war. Those responsibilities remain with Central Command and regional air and naval forces. The Justice Department will now decide on further legal steps following the referral from the Pentagon.