Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his position as the head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top military planner, a defense official said Wednesday. Sylvia was removed from his role as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position known in military circles as the “J5.”
Sylvia is the second general to be ousted from the J5 post under Hegseth; his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October. A spokesperson for the Joint Staff stated, “The Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend our deepest gratitude to Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service to our nation” and “wish him and his family the best.”
There is currently no immediate replacement for Sylvia, and no reason has been given for the firing, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.
Sylvia previously served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, and served as the vice director for the J5. Maj. Gen. Mark Slocum currently serves as the vice director for strategy, plans, and policy.
Sylvia's removal is part of a series of departures under Hegseth's tenure. Hegseth has ordered the military to double cuts to the overall number of top officers, targeting a 20% reduction by Jan. 1, 2027. Hegseth stated at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, “I call it accountability and long overdue.”
Some members of Congress have criticized these reductions. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said last month, “He’s purging a generation of great leaders of the military, and it’s going to take a generation to recover from it.”
The leadership change occurs as President Trump weighs renewed military strikes on Iran following the midterm elections scheduled for next week. Trump has said new strikes are an option and has vowed to “finish the job” in Iran.
According to two diplomats briefed on the matter, US officials have told regional allies to be prepared for potential renewed military action and the possibility of Iranian retaliation. A third US aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are currently moving toward the region.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran, the Pentagon informed Congress that the war has cost roughly $47.1 billion, with replacing expended munitions estimated to cost roughly $29 billion.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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