Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia over alleged classified leaks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top planner, amid allegations of leaking classified information to reporters. Officials cited by CBS News and Fox News said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests and that the case was referred to the Justice Department. They said the disclosures concerned the Iran war and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
More context
Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top military planner, was dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid accusations that he had leaked classified information to reporters. Officials quoted by CBS News and Fox News said Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations about alleged disclosures and that the investigation was referred to the Justice Department. The allegations concern information about the Iran war and Russia’s war in Ukraine. An official quoted by The Washington Sun accused Sylvia of meeting journalists outside the Pentagon to disclose classified material, saying this circumvented restrictions requiring reporters to be escorted inside the building. Sylvia led strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, known as the J5. He is the second general to be ousted from the post under Hegseth. No replacement has been named, according to CBS News and The Associated Press.
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Reporting
- Military.com — Pete Hegseth Fires Pentagon's Top Military Planner Over 'Classified Leaks to Media'
- Türkiye Today — Hegseth fires Pentagon’s top strategic planner amid leak investigation
- Fox News — Hegseth fires senior Pentagon general over classified leaks to press | Fox News
- CBS News — Hegseth fires Pentagon's top military planner over what official says were leaks to media - CBS News
- The Independent — Trump has another gaffe as he misgenders fired general and warns top strategist has 'big problems' | The Independent
- notus.org — Hegseth Fires a Top Military Strategist Over Alleged Classified Leaks - The Washington Sun
Verifier’s note
Military.com, NOTUS, Türkiye Today, and Fox News report that Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia amid allegations of leaks. CBS News also reports the firing but identifies its story as CBS/AP, while The Independent describes the firing based on earlier reports; all are consistent with the event occurring on October 29, 2026.