Hegseth Dismisses Senior Army General Amid Pentagon Leak Investigation

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed a top-tier military strategist from the Joint Staff over accusations of sharing classified material with the public, triggering a wider Pentagon leak investigation. The Defense Department confirmed on Thursday that it had formally referred the case to the Department of Justice to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the officer involved.

The dismissed officer, Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, previously served as the director for strategy, plans, and policy on the Pentagon's Joint Staff. Although department spokesperson Sean Parnell did not mention Sylvia by name in a public statement on social media, he confirmed that leadership carried out necessary personnel measures following an inquiry conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to protect sensitive information. Parnell noted that the agency would withhold further commentary to preserve the integrity of the ongoing review, adding that this matter and others have been directed to federal prosecutors for potential legal proceedings.

The Pentagon has sent the alleged leak case to the Justice Department for criminal investigation.

According to a senior defense official cited by Reuters, Sylvia failed three distinct polygraph examinations when questioned about the unauthorized release of classified records. The official stated that the scale of the disclosures became so severe that Hegseth acted swiftly to fire Sylvia to safeguard national security, calling the intervention an urgent necessity. However, an associate of the general told the Washington Post that Sylvia has repeatedly rejected claims that he divulged classified materials, while admitting that he had previously spoken with reporters.

Sylvia's dismissal marks one of the most prominent steps yet in Hegseth's broader campaign targeting officials suspected of speaking to media outlets without authorization. The administration's efforts come as the contentious American military conflict in Iran stretches into its ninth month. In July, Hegseth publicized the creation of a joint task force between the Pentagon and the Justice Department dedicated to tracking down and prosecuting leaks of sensitive operational and national security details.

The internal crackdown coincides with escalating tensions between the Defense Department and external media organizations. Last year, Hegseth instituted stringent rules restricting press access inside the Pentagon, prompting formal objections and legal challenges from journalistic institutions. In response, dozens of reporters surrendered their press credentials rather than submit to the updated conditions. Furthermore, three journalists previously dismissed by the Pentagon from the federally funded news organization Stars and Stripes filed a lawsuit in federal court this August, claiming their firings violated First Amendment protections.