# Hegseth fires Pentagon strategist over leaks

> Pentagon chief fires top strategist accused of leaking Iran and Ukraine war details.
- Title: Hegseth fires Pentagon strategist over leaks · Fox News
- Summary: Pentagon chief fires top strategist accused of leaking Iran and Ukraine war details. War Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia after…
- Keywords: peter hegseth, brett sylvia, pentagon, classified information, iran war, ukraine war, polygraph exams, leaks, war secretary, joint staff, news, politics
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-fires-top-pentagon-strategist-accused-leaking-classified-iran-ukraine-war-information
- Author: Morgan Phillips
- Published: 2026-10-29T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: peter hegseth, brett sylvia, pentagon, classified information, iran war, ukraine war, polygraph exams, leaks, war secretary, joint staff, news, politics
## Hegseth fires Pentagon strategist
War Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia after investigations found he failed polygraph exams related to classified leaks of Iran and Ukraine war information.
## Sylvia accused of leaking classified info
Sylvia failed three polygraph exams related to alleged disclosures of classified information about Iran war, Russia's Ukraine war and other sensitive matters.
## Sylvia's role in Pentagon
Sylvia served as director of the Joint Staff’s Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy, a senior role responsible for developing military strategy and advising the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
## Investigation referred to DOJ
The investigation has been referred to the Justice Department after the Pentagon found Sylvia failed three polygraph exams related to classified leaks.
## Sylvia's background
Sylvia is a 1994 West Point graduate with over three decades in the Army, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and combat wounds.
## Pentagon leadership changes
Sylvia is the second officer leading the J5 to be removed under Hegseth, following Lt. Gen. John McGee, with nearly two dozen generals and admirals fired during his tenure.
## Key takeaway

War Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia after investigations found he failed polygraph exams related to classified leaks of Iran and Ukraine war information.