Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, was dismissed following failed polygraph tests and admissions of sharing classified details with journalists. The disclosures began in June 2025 and were conducted through in-person meetings as well as the encrypted messaging platform Signal. Investigators suspect Sylvia intentionally erased a Signal communication thread related to Iran before his removal. His dismissal aligns with an aggressive anti-leak campaign led by Hegseth and a specialized Pentagon and Justice Department task force.
Key points
The Department of Justice has received a criminal referral to investigate the unauthorize…: The Department of Justice has received a criminal referral to investigate the unauthorized intelligence disclosures.
Official military planning regarding Iran remains under the purview of U.S. Central Comma…: Official military planning regarding Iran remains under the purview of U.S. Central Command rather than Sylvia's former directorate.
A joint Pentagon and Justice Department task force created in July is actively working to…: A joint Pentagon and Justice Department task force created in July is actively working to identify and prosecute unauthorized leakers.
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Lt Gen Brett Sylvia, who headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, known as the J5, acknowledged sharing classified information with two journalists from separate media outlets, the report said.
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A US official told the news outlet that Sylvia made the admissions on video after failing multiple polygraph tests during the investigation.
Sylvia was dismissed on Wednesday over what the Pentagon described as severe misconduct. The investigation has been referred to the Department of Justice for further action and remains ongoing.
The disclosures allegedly began in June 2025 and continued after the Pentagon tightened restrictions on media access. According to the report, Sylvia communicated with the journalists through the encrypted messaging app Signal and met one of them in person at a Silver Diner in Arlington, Virginia.
During one meeting, Sylvia allegedly used notes made while reviewing a classified report to orally share information about US assistance to Ukraine. The journalist, who was working on a book, met him twice.
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