Hegseth removes Army general Sylvia from Pentagon post

Washington, D.C. officials confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his role overseeing strategic planning at the Pentagon.

The firing came as the result of a leak investigation. According to officials not authorized to speak publicly, Sylvia was suspected of sharing sensitive information with reporters. The probe specifically targeted disclosures related to Iran and Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement confirming that the Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the inquiry. He noted that the matter has been referred to the Justice Department for potential legal action. Parnell did not name Sylvia in the statement, referring only to an investigation into the release of classified information.

The specific details of the leaked data remain unclear. However, the involvement of the Air Force office suggests a connection to recent air strikes over Iran. These operations began earlier this year and involved thousands of strikes launched from airfields in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Sylvia is a West Point graduate with extensive combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. He holds a Purple Heart and six Bronze Star medals, including one for valor. Before joining the Pentagon, he commanded the 101st Airborne Division. He had served in his current planning position for less than a year.

This dismissal adds Sylvia to a list of roughly two dozen senior officers removed by Hegseth. Some were fired for disagreeing with the deployment of troops on U.S. streets, while others were perceived as allies of former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley. Milley was investigated for allegedly undermining the president, a probe that officials say is stalling.

The current investigation into Sylvia echoes a previous controversy known as Signalgate. A year and a half ago, the Pentagon inspector general found that Hegseth had shared classified information about airstrikes in Yemen via a Signal chat. The messages included aircraft launch times, numbers, and strike locations. The IG warned that this information could have endangered U.S. service members if intercepted. President Trump supported Hegseth at the time, halting talks of his replacement.

Staff on Capitol Hill report that they are often kept in the dark on military matters. Hegseth has not held a press briefing since early May, relying instead on background briefings for reporters. Some Hill staffers say Democrats may increase scrutiny of the secretary if they gain control of the House.

Congress is currently considering language for the defense bill that would require lawmakers to be notified before military personnel are fired. A Hill staffer indicated this provision is under review. The removal of Sylvia occurs while the U.S. remains engaged in a contentious conflict with Iran. The day-to-day operations of that war are managed by Admiral Brad Cooper and his staff at Central Command, not by the strategic planning office Sylvia headed.