Pentagon drops top planner as Trump weighs new Iran attacks

The Pentagon left its most critical planning desk empty on Wednesday after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s director of strategy, plans, and policy. Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who held the position known as J5, was removed from his post with no immediate replacement named. A defense official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the dismissal, noting that no specific reason was provided for the move.

Sylvia is the second general to lose the J5 role under Hegseth’s leadership. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced into retirement last October. The J5 director and staff are tasked with generating military plans and coordinating those strategies with both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. The vacancy occurs at a moment when the administration is actively assessing options for renewed combat operations.

President Donald Trump has indicated that new strikes on Iran are an option following the midterm elections scheduled for next week. In the eight months since the war began alongside Israel, Trump has vowed to finish the job in the region. U.S. officials have briefed several Middle East nations and regional allies to prepare for potential renewed military action. Two diplomats briefed on the matter said the administration is also preparing for the possibility that Iran may retaliate against those countries. Trump has not yet made a final decision on launching new strikes.

Military assets are already shifting into position. A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are currently en route to the region. The buildup accompanies the personnel changes at the top of the military leadership structure.

A spokesperson for the Joint Staff issued a statement thanking Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of service. The statement described the service as distinguished and wished the family well. Sylvia’s official biography, which was online prior to the news of his firing, has been removed from the website.

Before joining the Joint Staff, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served in that capacity until May 2025. He also previously served as the vice director for the J5. His removal adds to a list of nearly two dozen generals, admirals, and other military leaders who have been fired, forced to retire, or have departed under Hegseth’s tenure.

The departures include civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy as well as top uniformed officers from the military services. Most of these changes have not been publicly explained by the Pentagon. The Pentagon did not respond to messages seeking comment late Wednesday.

Hegseth announced last month that he ordered the military to double the cuts to the overall number of top officers. The target is a 20 percent decrease to be completed by January 1, 2027. There are currently roughly 800 flag and general officer positions in the military.

Speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, Hegseth called the reduction a measure of accountability that was long overdue. The cuts have drawn criticism from some members of Congress who view the removal of senior leaders as a purge that will take years to rebuild.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot, said last month that Hegseth has a deep-seated grievance about military leadership. Kelly described the changes as purging a generation of great leaders, a process he said will take a generation to recover from.