Hegseth fires top Pentagon military planner - again
Protestors interrupt Sec. Hegseth panel discussion
Protestors interrupted a panel discussion with Secretary Pete Hegseth Wednesday, as he was speaking about autonomous warfare.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly fired another general from the Pentagon.
Sources told The Associated Press that Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who has served in the military for 32 years, was removed from his post as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
‘J5’ director fired again
What we know:
As the "J5" director, Sylvia was responsible for generating and coordinating military plans with both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. He’s the second general to be fired from the post by Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.
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Before arriving at the Joint Staff, Sylvia served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, according to his official biography, which has now been taken offline. He also previously served as the vice director for the J5.
What they're saying:
"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," a spokesperson for the Joint Staff told the AP. "[We] wish him and his family the best."
What we don't know:
It’s unclear why Sylvia was fired, or who will replace him. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More generals fired by Hegseth
Dig deeper:
Sylvia is the latest in a series of nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other military leaders to be fired, forced to retire or otherwise depart under Hegseth’s tenure — almost all of which have not been publicly explained by the Pentagon. That includes the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy as well as some top uniformed officers for the military services.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attends the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting at Mactan Expo on October 28, 2026 in Cebu, Philippines. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa - Pool/Getty Images)
By the numbers:
Last month, Hegseth said he ordered the military to double the cuts to the overall number of top officers to a 20% decrease to be completed by Jan. 1, 2027. There are currently roughly 800 flag and general officer positions.
The other side:
Democrats and critics have called the cuts a "purge" and warn it could negatively impact the U.S. military for years to come.
"He’s got some kind of like deep-seated grievance about leadership in the military," said Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and former Navy combat pilot who’s been critical of Hegseth. "He’s purging a generation of great leaders of the military, and it’s going to take a generation to recover from it."
Trump weighs more Iran strikes
Why you should care:
Trump has vowed to "finish the job" in Iran after launching the war with Israel eight months ago and said new strikes are an option after the midterm elections next week.
U.S. officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to be prepared for potential renewed military action after Tuesday’s elections as well as for the possibility that Iran will attempt to retaliate against them, two diplomats told the AP. They say Trump has not made a final decision on new strikes.
A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are making their way to the region.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.