Hegseth removes Pentagon’s top military planner amid leak allegations
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his position as the Joint Staff’s director for strategy, plans and policy, according to multiple news organizations. The three-star general, who led the directorate known as J5, has retired after 32 years of service, ABC News reported.
CBS News and Fox News, citing Pentagon officials, reported that Sylvia’s removal followed allegations involving disclosures of classified information about Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war. Fox reported that an Air Force Office of Special Investigations inquiry had been referred to the Justice Department and that Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations. Those allegations have not been publicly substantiated in detail, and Sylvia did not respond to Fox’s request for comment. The Justice Department declined to address Sylvia specifically but said it has ongoing investigations into …