Pentagon Fires General, Says He Failed Three Polygraphs on Leaks

Hours after Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was removed from his post, a Pentagon official said he is under investigation over allegations he gave journalists classified information about the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other subjects. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests about leaking classified information. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Sylvia on Wednesday from the job of head of strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. No reason was given for the removal.

The position generates and coordinates military plans for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. The Pentagon official said Sylvia was not a central planner on the Iran conflict and that this work falls to U.S. Central Command. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post that the department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. Parnell did not name Sylvia and said the matter has been sent to the Justice Department for potential further legal action. It is not clear why the case would be pursued in civilian courts rather than through the military justice system.

Sylvia did not respond to a voicemail, text messages, emails and a LinkedIn message sent to accounts and numbers that appear to belong to him. President Donald Trump, asked about the firing by reporters Thursday, said, "She's gonna have big problems," identifying the male general as a woman. He added, "We're very much looking for leakers." The Joint Staff on Thursday withdrew a statement it had issued a day earlier wishing Sylvia well, saying that upon further review, the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances. A Joint Staff spokesperson had said Wednesday that the office extended its deepest gratitude to Sylvia and his family for his 32 years of service.

Sylvia led the office he now stands accused of leaking from before his dismissal. His official biography, which has been taken offline, said he commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, and previously served as vice director of the Joint Staff office of strategy, plans and policy. His awards include six Bronze Star Medals, one for valor, and a Purple Heart.

The case is Hegseth's latest action involving leaks at the Pentagon. He fired three aides from his inner circle last year as part of an investigation that included polygraph tests. In a statement shared by senior aide Dan Caldwell, the three said they were incredibly disappointed by the manner in which their service ended and that unnamed Pentagon officials had slandered their character with baseless attacks. Hegseth did not say what the three were accused of. Caldwell was later hired by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Hegseth has also restricted media access at the Pentagon, requiring journalists to be escorted on the grounds and declaring the press office a classified space off limits to reporters. The removal comes as Trump weighs renewed strikes on Iran in the eight-month-long war. The midterm elections take place next week.