WASHINGTON (Realist English). The dismissal of Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, who served as director for strategy, plans, and policy (J5) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was reported by AP, CNN, The Hill, and other outlets, citing sources in the defense department. The Atlantic was the first to report the resignation. An official representative of the Joint Chiefs confirmed Sylvia’s departure, noting “32 years of impeccable service” and wishing the general success in the future.
Who was dismissed
Brett Sylvia headed J5 — the unit that formulates strategies, plans, and policy recommendations for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president. Before his transfer to the Joint Chiefs, he commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025.
His official biography on the Pentagon website was removed by the evening of October 28. Sylvia is the second general dismissed from the J5 post under Hegseth: his predecessor, Lieutenant General Joseph McGee, was forced to resign in October 2025 after reports of disagreements with the secretary of defense.
War with Iran and preparation for new strikes
The dismissal occurred as the administration of Donald Trump is considering resuming large-scale military operations against Iran. The US has been at war with Iran for eight months; according to CNN, American forces in the Middle East are ready to begin “new, potentially large” operations “within 96 hours of receiving an order” from Trump. The president himself has said he could “finish the job” in Iran and did not rule out new strikes after the midterm elections on November 3. A third carrier strike group and additional thousands of troops have been sent to the region.
Reasons: not officially stated, but versions exist
The Pentagon has not disclosed the reason for the dismissal, and no immediate replacement for Sylvia has been appointed. Sources in the defense department told the Daily Mail that the general had allegedly become the subject of an investigation in connection with the leak of classified information about the war in Iran and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It is claimed that he “failed three polygraph tests,” and the investigation has been transferred to the Department of Justice. This information has not been officially confirmed; Pentagon representatives called Sylvia “not the central planner of the war with Iran,” assigning that responsibility to CENTCOM.
A series of dismissals at the Pentagon
Sylvia is the latest high-ranking officer to leave the Pentagon under Hegseth. According to The Hill, the secretary of defense has dismissed or forced out more than two dozen generals, admirals, and civilian leaders, including the secretaries of the Army and Navy. In April 2026, Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and two other generals without public explanation, which drew criticism in Congress.
Hegseth also announced a reduction of approximately 20% of general and admiral positions by January 2027, explaining it as “accountability” and a fight against the “woke policies” of previous administrations. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly called what is happening “a purge of a whole generation of great military leaders,” the consequences of which the army will feel for another decade.
The dismissal of the top military planner at a moment when Washington is preparing for possible escalation in the Middle East creates a vacuum in the Pentagon’s strategic layer. The reason has not been officially named, and the leak version remains publicly unconfirmed.
Regardless of the motives, personnel instability in the top US military leadership complicates the coordination of planning and raises questions about the extent to which Hegseth’s decisions are dictated by operational necessity and how much by a desire for loyalty. Whether J5 will remain without a strong leader during possible strikes on Iran or whether Hegseth will appoint a replacement as soon as possible is the key question in the coming days.
