WASHINGTON (TNND) — A senior Army officer has been removed from one of the Pentagon’s most influential strategy jobs amid allegations he leaked classified information about two major conflicts.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his role as director of strategy, plans, and policy on the Joint Staff, commonly known as the J5. A Pentagon official told CBS News and The Hill that Sylvia was accused of leaking classified information about the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war, though the allegations have not been publicly substantiated.
The Pentagon official said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests about sharing information with reporters. The matter was referred to the Justice Department, but the status of that investigation is unclear.
The Hill reported that Sylvia allegedly met with reporters outside the Pentagon to avoid rules requiring journalists to have escorts inside the building.
The Joint Staff initially issued a statement thanking Sylvia for his 32 years of service, then retracted it, saying it did not reflect the full circumstances. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said an Air Force Office of Special Investigations probe led the department to take personnel action and refer the matter to the Justice Department, adding that he could not comment further to protect the investigation.
Sylvia is the second officer removed from the J5 role under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, retired last year. No replacement has been named.
Before serving in the Joint Staff role, Sylvia commanded the Army’s 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. He also served as the J5’s vice director.
The shake-up comes as the Trump administration considers possible renewed strikes on Iran after next week’s midterm elections. The Associated Press reported that U.S. officials told some Middle Eastern countries to prepare for possible military action and Iranian retaliation. CBS reported that a third U.S. aircraft carrier and additional troops are heading to the region.
Hegseth has said he wants to cut the number of top military officers by 20% by Jan. 1, 2027, describing the cuts as “accountability.” Some members of Congress have criticized the effort as a purge.
