Pentagon Official Says Ousted General Leaked Classified Iran War Details to Reporters
The Army general Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed as the Pentagon’s top strategy officer was accused of leaking classified information about the Iran war to reporters, a Pentagon official said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CBS News late Wednesday that Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia leaked classified details about the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sylvia failed three polygraph tests about sharing classified information with the press, and his case has been referred to the Justice Department, the same official said.
A Pentagon official also told The Hill that Sylvia was removed for “severe misconduct” and that the leaking “became so critical that” Hegseth acted. The investigation is ongoing.
“Due to the Pentagon’s media policy requiring journalists to have escorts in the building, Sylvia began meeting with journalists outside of the Pentagon in order to leak classified information,” that official said.
Neither Sylvia nor anyone speaking for him has publicly responded to the allegations, and no charges have been announced. The accusations so far come only from officials who declined to be named.
Joint Staff Pulls Back Its Praise
The Joint Staff had initially thanked Sylvia with its “deepest gratitude.” It later retracted that statement, saying it did not “appropriately reflect the full circumstances” of his departure.
“Out of respect for the service member and the ongoing personnel process, we will not comment further,” the Joint Staff said in its revised statement.
Sylvia served about 11 months as director for strategy, plans and policy, known as the J5, and has since retired, The Center Square reported. The official said he was fired to “protect national security.”
The Atlantic had described Sylvia as the “Pentagon’s chief planner” for the Iran war. The official disputed that, saying planning for the war belongs to U.S. Central Command under Adm. Bradley Cooper.
Sylvia is the second J5 pushed out under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October. No replacement for Sylvia has been named.
Before joining the Joint Staff, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division until May 2025. He holds a Bronze Star with “V” device for valor and a Purple Heart, and his official biography has been taken offline.
The firing comes as President Trump vows to “finish the job” in Iran and says new strikes are an option after the midterm elections. A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of troops are heading to the region.
The United States has not struck Iran since early September, and Trump has not given Vice President JD Vance the go-ahead to restart talks with Tehran, according to The Center Square.
Nearly two dozen senior military leaders have been removed since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Speaking to commanders at Quantico on Sept. 30, Hegseth defended the dismissals: “I call it accountability and long overdue.”
Critics see it differently. Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain, said Hegseth is “purging a generation of great leaders.”
The leak allegation marks a shift from the Pentagon’s initial silence. When Sylvia’s removal was first reported, officials gave no reason for it.
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