Hegseth fires top planner on Joint Chiefs over claims he spoke to press
The top planner on the Joint Chiefs of Staff was fired from his post this week.
A Pentagon official told Task & Purpose in a statement that Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, director for strategy, plans and policy was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “for severe misconduct” and that he is under investigation for giving information to the press about the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sylvia’s departure was first revealed by The Atlantic Wednesday.
The official also referred Task & Purpose to a statement posted to X Thursday by Pentagon Press Secretary Sean Parnell. The statement did not explicitly name Sylvia or his firing, but Parnell wrote that the Department of Defense “took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information.” He said that an investigation was conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
“To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action,” Parnell said. “This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action.”
Sylvia was the director for strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also known as J5, which is responsible for matching the Pentagon’s policy with the operational force and shaping the department’s long-term military strategy.
No replacement or interim J5 was named as of Thursday morning, which leaves the president’s top military advisors without a lead planner during an active conflict. The Joint Chiefs are uniformed officers from across the branches who act as the lead military advising body to the president, Secretary of Defense and National Security Council.
The official alleged that because of a new Pentagon press policy instituted this year, Sylvia met with journalists outside of the building. They also said that Sylvia failed three polygraph tests in which he was questioned about revealing classified information.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon’s press corps declined to sign onto the Pentagon’s new policy, which, in addition to requiring escorts, carried with it much greater risk that journalists and outlets could face legal action for publishing information that was not officially approved by the Defense Department. The new policy was a significant departure from the building’s previous requirements that journalists had to follow to obtain a press pass. Task & Purpose was among the publications that declined to sign.
Sylvia’s firing makes the latest high-level member of the military to be forced out. His predecessor, Army Lt. Gen. Joe McGee, retired last fall after reported disputes with Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. John Daniel Caine. Last year, Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown was fired as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other top military leaders were also ousted, including Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse and the heads of Naval Special Warfare Command and the Navy Reserve.
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This year, several top Army leaders have also been forced out, including then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Gen. Christopher Donahue, who had served as the head of the 82nd Airborne Division before leading U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
Before serving with the Joint Chiefs, Sylvia was a special assistant to the Army Chief of Staff under Gen. George. Before that, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his command of the 101st, the unit was one of the first selected for the Army’s modernization overhaul — under George — where the 101st was outfitted to test new technology and formations for large-scale, modern combat.
Sylvia also served as the vice director for the J5, and as deputy commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, including when the unit deployed to Poland for Operation Atlantic Resolve.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson with the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued the following statement: “Out of respect for the service member and the ongoing personnel process, we will not comment further.”
Sylvia’s departure comes as the United States remains at war with Iran — and President Donald Trump repeatedly talks about renewing the conflict after next week’s midterm elections — ongoing air campaigns against militants in Somalia and as the military expands a campaign against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America.
UPDATE: 10/29/2026; This article has been updated with statements from defense officials that Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was fired from his position over allegations that he revealed information to the press, and that the investigation has been referred to the Department of Justice.
