Hegseth fires Pentagon’s chief planning officer as renewed action against Iran looms, source says – Scripps News

Hegseth fires Pentagon’s chief planning officer as renewed action against Iran looms, source says  Scripps News

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s top planning officer as President Donald Trump weighs new strikes against Iran, according to a defense official and another source familiar with the matter.Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who held the role of director for strategy, plans and policy, also known as J5, for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was abruptly dismissed for alleged “misconduct,” the defense official said, claiming he is the subject of an investigation for allegedly leaking classified information.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell appeared to confirm Sylvia’s firing in a post on X Thursday morning and alluded to an investigation into alleged disclosures of classified information but did not provide any additional details or evidence of potential wrongdoing.“Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information.

To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action,” Parnell wrote in the post, which did not mention Sylvia by name.A spokesman for Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, meanwhile, confirmed Sylvia’s ouster. In an initial statement to CNN, the spokesperson said Caine and the Joint Staff extend their “deepest gratitude” to Sylvia for his 32 years of service — wishing him the best going forward.The spokesperson for Caine later revised that