Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia on Wednesday. This top strategist failed three polygraph exams. The official told Fox News the general was accused of leaking secrets about Iran and Ukraine.
Sylvia led the Pentagon’s strategy team. He was the director of the J5. This group makes military plans for the commander and the president. But the official said Sylvia was not the main planner for Iran. That job belongs to Adm. Brad Cooper.
Reports say Sylvia met with journalists outside the Pentagon. New rules now require reporters to be escorted inside. The Atlantic first reported the ouster. They cited sources who said Hegseth lost trust in the general.
Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims earlier this year. Sylvia is the second leader of the J5 to go under Hegseth. Fox News noted the investigation is now with the Justice Department.
No immediate replacement has been named. A defense official told the New York Post that no reason was given for the firing. Yet the official cited by Fox News listed specific failures. He said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests.
A spokesperson for the Joint Staff released a statement. According to their statement, the Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force express profound thanks to Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia and his family for 32 years of distinguished service to our nation. They also added they “wish him and his family the best.”
Some lawmakers are angry about the move. Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, called it a purge. The New York Post reported his claim that he is purging a generation of great leaders of the military, and it’s going to take a generation to recover from it. He claims Hegseth has a deep grievance against military leaders.
There are roughly 800 general officer positions in the military. Hegseth told junior leaders: “I call it accountability and long overdue.”
The J5 role has been sidelined since the spring. Fox News heard this from well-placed sources. The tension seems to be between Hegseth and policy chief Elbridge Colby. The general’s removal marks a sharp shift in strategy.
