US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top planning officer, as President Donald Trump weighs new military strikes against Iran, according to a defence official and another source familiar with the matter.
Sylvia, who held the role of director for strategy, plans and policy (J5) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed for alleged “misconduct” and is the subject of an investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, a defence official said.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell appeared to confirm the firing in a post on X on Thursday, alluding to an investigation into alleged disclosures of classified information without providing details or evidence. “Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action,” Parnell wrote. He did not name Sylvia and wrote that the matter, along with others, had been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the department “has ongoing investigations related to possible leaks of classified information. We work closely with our government partners, which includes the Department of War.” An Air Force Office of Special Investigations spokesperson confirmed to CNN that it had conducted an investigation into allegations of unauthorised disclosure by Sylvia.
The J5 role is a strategic position focused on advising plans for US engagement internationally. Sylvia, formerly commander of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, was nominated for the role by former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. By Wednesday evening, his biography had been removed from the Joint Chiefs’ website.
Sylvia’s removal comes as two US officials told CNN that US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch potentially major military operations against Iran “within 96 hours of receiving” an order from President Trump. “It will be a big effort,” one official said. Current and former US officials familiar with internal planning said it is a question of when, not if, Trump will give the order, possibly before the end of the year but most likely after the US midterm elections. Trump has said no attack would come before Tuesday’s midterms, and officials caution that he has appeared in the past to lean toward certain actions only to back off at the last moment.
During his tenure as Defence Secretary, Hegseth has harboured deep suspicions that the Joint Staff was leaking information to make him and his team look bad, CNN previously reported. Last year, he fired three other senior Pentagon officials, publicly accusing them of being leakers. Those accusations were never proven. Sylvia’s predecessor, Lieutenant General Joe McGee, left the position in October 2025 under pressure from Hegseth, sources said. Hegseth has also fired more than two dozen senior officers. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George was forced to retire in April. Hegseth pushed out a Navy secretary he clashed with and reportedly intervened in promotions across the military branches.
A Joint Chiefs spokesman initially expressed “deepest gratitude” for Sylvia’s 32 years of service, then revised the statement, saying “upon further review, we determined that the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances” of his departure. It is unclear who will take over Sylvia’s responsibilities.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The firing removes a key official overseeing US war planning at a moment when the Pentagon is preparing for possible large-scale operations against Iran.
- It extends Hegseth’s pattern of purging senior military leaders, raising questions about the independence of military advice and the stability of Pentagon leadership.
- The outcome of the leak investigation and any resulting charges could have legal and political repercussions for the administration.
Background
Hegseth, as Defence Secretary, has aggressively reshaped the top ranks of the military, firing or forcing out numerous senior officers he accused of leaking information or being insufficiently aligned with his agenda. The dismissals have occurred alongside escalating US tensions with Iran, with Trump signalling a willingness to order major strikes after the midterm elections. Sylvia’s role as J5 was central to strategic planning and advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Key Perspectives
Defence official & source familiar: Say Sylvia was fired for alleged “misconduct” and is under investigation for leaking classified information.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell: Confirmed the firing in a social media post, citing an Air Force OSI investigation and referral to the Justice Department, but provided no evidence.
Justice Department spokesperson: Acknowledged ongoing investigations into possible leaks, with cooperation from the Department of War.
Air Force Office of Special Investigations: Confirmed it conducted an investigation into Sylvia over unauthorised disclosure.
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine’s spokesman: Initially thanked Sylvia for his service, then revised the statement to reflect the “full circumstances” of his departure.
Two US officials: Said US forces in the Middle East are ready to launch major operations against Iran within 96 hours of a Trump order, and that the question is when, not if, he will give it.
What to Watch
- Whether Trump issues an order for Iran strikes after the midterm elections, and the scale of any such operation.
- The progress of the Justice Department investigation into Sylvia and whether charges are filed.
- Further departures from the Pentagon leadership as Hegseth continues to reshape the military’s top ranks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHegseth fired Pentagon chief planner Brett Sylvia as Trump weighed new strikes against Iran.7NEWS: “US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s top planning officer as President Donald Trump weighs new strikes against Iran, according to a defence official and another source familiar with the matter.”
- SupportedSylvia was ousted amid an investigation into alleged leaks of classified information.7NEWS: “He was abruptly dismissed for alleged “misconduct,” a defence official said, claiming he is the subject of an investigation for allegedly leaking classified information.”
- SupportedSylvia held the J5 role for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.7NEWS: “Lieutnenant General Brett Sylvia held the role of director for strategy, plans and policy — also known as J5 — for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”
- SupportedParnell wrote that an Air Force OSI investigation led to personnel action to protect sensitive information, and that there would be no further comment to protect the investigation’s integrity.7NEWS: ““Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action,””
- SupportedThe Justice Department said it had ongoing investigations into possible leaks of classified information and worked with government partners, including the Department of War.7NEWS: ““has ongoing investigations related to possible leaks of classified information. We work closely with our government partners, which includes the Department of War.””
- SupportedAn Air Force Office of Special Investigations spokesperson confirmed to CNN an investigation into alleged unauthorised disclosure by Sylvia.7NEWS: “An Air Force Office of Special Investigations spokesperson confirmed to CNN that they conducted an investigation into allegations of unauthorised disclosure by Sylvia”
- SupportedSylvia’s biography had been removed from the Joint Chiefs’ website by Wednesday evening.7NEWS: “By Wednesday evening, Sylvia’s biography had been removed from the Joint Chiefs’ website.”
- SupportedTwo US officials told CNN that US forces in the Middle East were prepared to launch potentially major operations against Iran within 96 hours of an order from Trump.7NEWS: “Two US officials told CNN earlier this week that US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch new, potentially major, military operations against Iran “within 96 hours of receiving” an order from Trump.”
- SupportedOne official said, “It will be a big effort.”7NEWS: ““It will be a big effort,” one of the officials told CNN.”
- SupportedCurrent and former officials familiar with internal planning said it was a question of when, not if, Trump would order action, most likely after the midterm elections.7NEWS: “That view has been echoed by other current and former US officials familiar with internal military planning discussions — some of whom say it is a question of when, not if, Trump will issue a go-order. They believe it could come any time before the end of the year, though most likely after the US midterm elections.”
- SupportedTrump had said no attack would come before Tuesday’s midterms.7NEWS: “Trump has stated previously that no attack would come before Tuesday’s midterms.”
- SupportedHegseth publicly accused three other senior Pentagon officials of being leakers, and those accusations were never proven.7NEWS: “Last year, Hegseth also fired three senior Pentagon officials, two of whom were close friends that had worked with him for years, and publicly accused them of being leakers. Those accusations were never proven.”