Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top military planner, as Donald Trump is weighing plans to renew military strikes on Iran.

A Pentagon official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters, told CBS News that Sylvia was accused of misconduct for allegedly leaking classified information related to the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell did not name Sylvia in a social media statement, but said that “following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information.”

“To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action,” Parnell continued.

“This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action. Classified information is not personal property. Leaking it for personal, political or professional gain is a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for keeping it. Our commitment was not an empty promise. We vowed to find you, and we meant it.”

Sylvia is the second general during Hegseth’s tenure to be removed from a “J5” post.

According to the Joint Chiefs, the J5 role is strategic, focused on advising on plans for U.S. international engagement.

“The Joint Staff J5 proposes strategies, plans, and policy recommendations to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to support his provision of military advice across the full spectrum of national security concerns to the President and other national leaders and to ensure those recommendations are informed by a larger strategic context – coordinated with interagency and alliance partners – account for the view and requirements of the combatant commanders, and assess risk in executing the National Military Strategy,” the Joint Chiefs website says.

Sylvia’s predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire in October 2025.