President Donald Trump predicted serious trouble for Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia on Thursday, one day after Pete Hegseth removed him from his Pentagon post. The Defense Department has accused Sylvia of leaking classified information, allegations that have not been established in court.
What Donald Trump said after Brett Sylvia’s Pentagon dismissal
Trump addressed the firing by saying Sylvia was “going to have big problems” and described the administration as “very much looking for leakers.” He also warned of “long-term problems.” Trump mistakenly referred to Sylvia as a woman during the exchange. Hegseth fired Sylvia on Wednesday. Sylvia directed strategy, plans, and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a senior military planning position.
A Pentagon official told The New York Post and other outlets that Hegseth dismissed Sylvia for “severe misconduct.” The official alleged that investigators were examining whether Sylvia leaked classified material concerning the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine war and other subjects. The official also claimed that Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations. However, two other Pentagon sources disputed the accusations, according to CBS News. A colleague also told The Washington Post that Sylvia had repeatedly denied leaking classified information. The Pentagon referred the matter to the Department of Justice for potential legal action, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Moreover, the department also clarified Sylvia’s role in the war. It said he led the Joint Chiefs’ J5 directorate but did not lead operational planning for the Iran campaign. That responsibility, the department said, belongs to CENTCOM and its commander, Admiral Cooper.
Nonetheless, Brett Sylvia joins a growing list of generals and senior officials who have left under Pete Hegseth. His case stands out because the Pentagon publicly connected his dismissal to allegations of classified-information leaks. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire in October 2025. The Pentagon also removed three Hegseth aides last year amid a leak investigation. One of them, Dan Caldwell, later joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. None of the three was charged with a crime.
