Hegseth removes second J5 general in 12 months over Iran war leaks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his post as the Pentagon's top military planner on Wednesday. A Pentagon official told CBS News late Wednesday that Sylvia was accused of misconduct for leaking classified information related to the conflict in Iran. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.

According to the official, Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the sharing of classified information with the press. The case has been referred to the Department of Justice. Sylvia was removed as the head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position known in military circles as J5.

Sylvia is the second general to be removed from the J5 post under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October. Before joining the Joint Staff, Sylvia served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. He also previously served as the vice director for J5. His official biography has been taken offline.

The removal of Sylvia marks the latest departure in a series of high profile exits. Nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other military leaders have been fired, forced to retire or otherwise departed under Hegseth's tenure. Almost none of these moves have been publicly explained by the Pentagon. The departures include the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy, as well as top uniformed officers for the military services.

Hegseth ordered the military to double cuts to the overall number of top officers to a 20 percent decrease by January 1, 2027. There are currently roughly 800 flag and general officer positions. On September 30, Hegseth told junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico that he called the changes accountability and long overdue.

The timing of Sylvia's firing coincides with President Donald Trump weighing renewed strikes on Iran. The president launched the war with Israel eight months ago and has vowed to finish the job. He said new strikes are an option after the midterm elections scheduled for next week. U.S. officials told several Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for the possibility that Iran will attempt to retaliate against them.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are currently making their way to the region. A spokesperson for the Joint Staff said the Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend their deepest gratitude to Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service to the nation. The statement added that they wish him and his family the best.

Some members of Congress have criticized the cuts to the ranks of generals as a purge that will take years to rebuild. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and former Navy combat pilot, said last month that Hegseth has a deep seated grievance about leadership in the military. Kelly stated that the administration is purging a generation of great leaders and that it will take a generation to recover from it.