Top general fired from Pentagon Joint Staff position for allegedly leaking classified info, source says

A top general at the Pentagon was suddenly removed from his senior post earlier this week for allegedly leaking classified information, according to a senior Pentagon official.

Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia served in the Joint Staff as the Director for Strategy, Plans & Policy for 11 months, an important office that handles long-term strategic planning and that is known in military jargon as the J-5.

Sylvia was removed from the position for a lack of confidence, a source told ABC News. However, new information in a statement from a senior Pentagon to ABC News said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Sylvia because an inquiry determined that he had allegedly been leaking classified information to the press about the war with Iran, the war in Ukraine and other matters.

The official said Hegseth fired Sylvia for “severe misconduct,” that he took “immediate action,” and that an ongoing investigation has been referred to the Justice Department.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesman, confirmed in a social media post on Thursday that "Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information" and that the matter has been referred to the Justice Department for "potential further legal action." Parnell never identifies Sylvia as the subject of that investigation. 

Parnell said that the Defense Department "has zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorized disclosure of classified information. Anyone who compromises sensitive national security information puts the lives of our Warriors at risk and undermines every military operation that keeps our country safe."

The Justice Department did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Sylvia becomes the latest senior military officer to be either fired or sidelined during Hegseth's tenure. 

In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for the Joint Staff expressed their "deepest gratitude" for Sylvia's "distinguished" service and said they "wish him and his family the best," but later issued a new statement.

"We are withdrawing our earlier statement concerning this personnel matter," the new statement said. "Upon further review, we determined that the statement did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances. Out of respect for the servicemember and the ongoing personnel process, we will not comment further."

The J-5 is recognized as one of the Joint Staff's most important directorates in the Joint Staff along with the directorate for Operations, the J-3, that is responsible for the planning and execution of military operations.

Last year, two prominent Army generals serving on the Joint Staff were sidelined and had to retire early, including Sylvia's immediate predecessor as the J-5, Lt. Gen. Joseph "JP" McGee, who retired last October. 

McGee had been nominated under the Biden administration to become the director of the Joint Staff, but he was not renominated by the Trump administration.  With no other slots available to him as a three- or four-star general, he had to retire. 

Also retiring early last year was Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, who was widely expected to be on track for a fourth star.

Editor's note: The story has been updated to reflect a new statement from a Joint Staff spokesperson issued after publication.