Pentagon Ousts Joint Staff General After Three Failed Polygraphs

Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia lost his position as the head of strategy, plans, and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff late Wednesday after the Pentagon accused him of leaking sensitive information to the press.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the firing, a move that arrived just hours after officials confirmed the removal. Sylvia’s staff typically generates and coordinates military plans for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. While no official reason was initially cited, a Pentagon official later stated that Sylvia was under investigation for sharing classified details about the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and other topics with journalists.

The department claimed Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the leaks. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on social media that the department “took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information.” Parnell noted that the matter has been sent to the Justice Department for “potential further legal action,” though it remains unclear why civilian courts are being considered instead of military justice.

President Donald Trump commented on the firing on Thursday, referring to Sylvia as “she” and saying, “She’s gonna have big problems.” The president added, “We’re very much looking for leakers.” In a subsequent reversal, the Joint Staff withdrew a statement from the previous day that had wished Sylvia well. The department said the earlier message did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances after further review.

Sylvia served 32 years in the military before his dismissal. He previously commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. His official biography, which has since been taken offline, lists six Bronze Star Medals, including one for valor, and a Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.

This incident follows a pattern of personnel changes under Hegseth. Last year, the secretary fired three aides from his inner circle during a leak investigation that also involved polygraph tests. Those aides protested their dismissals in a joint statement, claiming unnamed officials slandered their character. Hegseth’s administration has also restricted media access, requiring journalists to be escorted on Pentagon grounds and declaring the press office a classified space.

The firing occurs as the Trump administration weighs renewed strikes on Iran in the eight-month-long war. A Pentagon official insisted that Sylvia was not a central planner on the Iran conflict, noting that role belonged to U.S. Central Command.