WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — The United States has removed Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia as the Pentagon’s top military planner amid allegations that he leaked classified information to the media, US outlets reported.
Sylvia, who headed strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff, was dismissed on Wednesday, according to reports citing unnamed sources. CBS News quoted a Pentagon official as saying the general had failed three polygraph tests about sharing classified information with reporters, while Fox News reported that the alleged leaks concerned the wars with Iran and in Ukraine.
A Joint Staff spokesperson first issued a statement confirming Sylvia’s departure and wishing him well, but later withdrew it, saying: “Upon further review, we determined that the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances.”
‘Zero tolerance’
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on X that the Defense Department “has zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorised disclosure of classified information” and had taken “necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information”.
Sylvia is the latest senior officer to be pushed out under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has removed a string of generals and admirals since taking office. His departure comes as the US remains at war with Iran, a conflict the Pentagon says has cost more than $47 billion.
