Pentagon General Fired Over Classified War Leaks

2 min read

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia after the general admitted to leaking classified information about the Ukraine and Iran wars to multiple reporters. According to a Pentagon report reviewed by Axios, Sylvia confessed to sharing sensitive details with two separate journalists over a one-year period, starting around June 2025.

Unauthorized Disclosures and Polygraph Failures

The Pentagon report noted that Sylvia had trouble passing multiple polygraph interviews, with a U.S. official stating he failed four tests. The report revealed that Sylvia, who was the Pentagon’s top military planner at the time, made unauthorized disclosures to the media. He was cooperative in answering questions about his interactions with the media and provided his personal phone for a forensics examination.

Leak Details and Meetings

The suspected disclosures included leaks via the Signal app and a meeting at the Silver Diner in Virginia. The report indicated that the diner meeting took place because the reporter’s access to the Pentagon was revoked between meetings. During the meeting, Sylvia relied on notes from a classified report to orally provide information about U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Signal Leaks and Accidental Deletion

Sylvia also shared information through Signal with a second reporter. He claimed he accidentally deleted the conversation, but officials suspect it was intentional. The report mentioned that Sylvia received messages from a redacted source, which he believes had something to do with Iran. He claimed he did not respond to the message and tried to delete it, but accidentally deleted the entire conversation instead.

Impact and Leadership Actions

In one news story that reported 20 officials criticized Pentagon leadership, Sylvia admitted to being one of them. President Donald Trump commented that Sylvia would have “big problems, long-term problems.” Sylvia’s termination follows Hegseth’s announcement of a joint task force with the Justice Department in July focused on identifying Pentagon leakers. The Office of General Counsel was instructed to prioritize prosecuting those who share undisclosed information with the media.

Leadership Changes and Leaks

Nearly two dozen generals, admirals, and senior leaders have been fired, pushed out, or have departed under Hegseth’s leadership, according to Fox News. This incident highlights the Pentagon’s increased focus on accountability and transparency in handling classified information.

Source: Daily Wire

Written by

Connor Davis