Pete Hegseth Dismisses the Pentagon’s Top Military Planner Without Official Explanation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia on October 28. Sylvia was the Joint Staff’s director for strategy, plans and policy; no reason was given for his removal and no successor was named, despite the J5 role’s importance in advising General Dan Caine and linking military operations, defense policy and the White House. Officials cited by The Atlantic said Hegseth may have lost confidence in Sylvia, whose relationship with defense policy chief Elbridge Colby was reportedly difficult. Sylvia is the second person to leave the post in a year, and at least 26 generals and admirals have departed or been removed since Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon.