Pentagon fires planning chief amid leak probe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, the Army officer who oversees strategic planning at the Pentagon. Officials who spoke without public authorization said Sylvia was the subject of a leak investigation. The dismissal adds to a series of personnel changes at the Department of Defense, where Hegseth has removed roughly two dozen senior officers.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the probe in a statement that did not name Sylvia. Parnell said the Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the inquiry into the release of classified information. The department has referred the matter to the Justice Department for possible legal action.

Sources indicated that Sylvia allegedly shared details regarding operations in Iran and Ukraine with reporters. The Air Force investigation focuses on air strikes launched earlier this year from bases in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Sylvia’s role covers long-term policy and assessment, while Admiral Brad Cooper and staff at Central Command direct the current Iran conflict.

Sylvia, a West Point graduate, served as commander of the 101st Airborne Division. He accumulated combat time in Afghanistan and Iraq and received a Purple Heart and six Bronze Star medals, including one for valor. He had held the planning position for less than a year.

The firing follows a 2025 finding by the Pentagon inspector general that Hegseth shared classified data on Yemen airstrikes via a Signal chat. That information included launch times and aircraft counts, which the inspector general said could have endangered service members. President Trump retained Hegseth after that incident, and the secretary has not held a public press briefing since early May.

Congressional staff are reviewing language for the defense bill that would require the secretary to notify lawmakers before dismissing military personnel. The proposal aims to address concerns about the pace of recent firings. Some senior officers were removed for disagreements over troop deployments, while others were linked to former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley.