Pentagon Ousts General Brett Sylvia Over Classified Leak Allegations

The dismissal marks another volatile chapter in the Pentagon's ongoing campaign against internal unauthorized disclosures. While the Joint Chiefs of Staff initially issued a commendation for Sylvia’s 32-year career, they rescinded the statement within 24 hours, citing the need to reflect the full, graver circumstances of his departure. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the case has been referred to the Justice Department, signaling a potential move toward civilian prosecution rather than a traditional military court-martial.

President Donald Trump addressed the firing briefly on Thursday, stating the administration is actively hunting for leakers, though he mistakenly referred to the general as a woman. This ouster follows a pattern of personnel shifts under Hegseth, who has previously purged staff aides amid similar leak investigations. Critics of these moves point to an increasingly restrictive environment at the Department of Defense, where media access has been sharply curtailed and the press office declared a classified zone. Sylvia, a decorated veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, has not publicly responded to the allegations.