U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed General Brett Sylvia, one of the Pentagon’s senior military planning officials, as President Donald Trump considers possible new strikes against Iran, according to a U.S. defense official.
Sylvia served as director of strategy, plans and policy on the staff of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, a key position involved in shaping military strategy and operational planning.
He is the second general to leave the post since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. His predecessor, General Joseph McGee, was forced to retire in October 2025.
A U.S. defense official confirmed Sylvia’s departure but said no replacement had been named and no reason for his dismissal had been made public. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of military personnel matters.
The dismissal was first reported by The Atlantic magazine.
Departure comes amid tensions with Iran
Sylvia’s departure comes at a sensitive time for the United States, as the Trump administration considers its next steps in the conflict with Iran, which the report says has entered its eighth month.
The potential for renewed U.S. military action against Tehran adds significance to changes within the Pentagon’s senior leadership, although no direct connection has been established between Sylvia’s dismissal and the administration’s Iran policy.
A spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff thanked Sylvia for his 32 years of service to the United States and wished him and his family well.
The Pentagon has not publicly explained the circumstances surrounding his departure.
