Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s top military planner. This comes amid the former’s impeachment possibility. The general’s dismissal also lands as President Donald Trump weighs another round of strikes on Iran in the eight-month-long war.
Brett Sylvia is removed as Donald Trump considers another round of Iran strikes
Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was ousted as head of strategy, plans, and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff — the job military circles call the “J5.” Sylvia becomes the second general Pete Hegseth has pushed out of that post. Last October, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee was forced to retire.
The defense official told the Associated Press that no reason was given for the firing. There’s no immediate replacement lined up either. A Joint Staff spokesperson shared, “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 wished the family well.
The timing is notable as the J5 director and staff normally build and coordinate military plans for both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. Sylvia’s exit leaves that planning desk vacant as the general staff gears up for a possible new phase of the Iran war. After all, Donald Trump has promised to “finish the job” in Iran since launching the war with Israel eight months ago.
He says new strikes are an option after next week’s midterm elections. Two diplomats briefed on the matter claimed U.S. officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to brace for potential renewed military action after Tuesday’s vote and for possible Iranian retaliation. They said Trump has not made a final decision. A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are moving toward the region.
All in all, Sylvia’s dismissal adds to a pattern. Hegseth has now cleared out two generals from the same critical planning post in barely a year. Additionally, he did it while the Pentagon faces its most consequential strategic test of the conflict.
