US Defense Secretary Dismisses Pentagon General Over Classified Leaks
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia after an internal investigation revealed he leaked classified information on Iran and Ukraine to journalists over a year.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed a senior Pentagon general after an internal investigation revealed he leaked classified information regarding Iran and Ukraine to journalists over the course of a year. The probe, detailed in a report obtained by Axios, found that Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia admitted to the unauthorized disclosures in a videotaped interview after failing four polygraph tests.
According to the investigation, the leaks began in June 2025 and continued despite security restrictions. Sylvia communicated with reporters using the encrypted messaging app Signal and met with one journalist in person at a restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, after the reporter's Pentagon press credentials were revoked. During the meeting, Sylvia shared classified details regarding US military assistance to Ukraine based on notes he had taken while reviewing a sensitive report. Investigators noted that the general failed to coordinate the meetings with the Pentagon public affairs office.
Investigators also focused on deleted messages within the Signal app. While US officials suspect Sylvia intentionally erased his communication history with a journalist, the general claimed the deletion was accidental while attempting to clear a single notification regarding Iran. In addition to the direct leaks, Sylvia admitted to being one of roughly 20 sources cited in a published article that criticized Pentagon leadership.
The case has triggered internal friction within the administration, with reports indicating that aides to the acting Army secretary attempted to secure a supportive statement for Sylvia from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to mitigate damage. A defense official strongly denied the allegation, labeling the narrative part of a coordinated campaign to create chaos. Sylvia's dismissal aligns with Hegseth's broader campaign against leaks, which includes a joint task force established with the Department of Justice to prosecute unauthorized disclosures.
