President Trump backs leak crackdown after Pentagon strategist removed
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President Donald Trump defended the dismissal of Pentagon strategist Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to root out leakers, with officials citing failed polygraphs and alleged media contacts.
President Donald Trump addressed the removal of Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s chief strategist, on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, underscoring a hardline effort to restore discipline and stop leaks inside the defense establishment. When asked about the firing, the president said, "She’s got problems. She’s gonna have big problems. We’re very much looking for leakers," referring to Sylvia with a feminine pronoun.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Sylvia’s dismissal on Wednesday as part of a broader push to clean house and hold officials accountable. According to a Defense Department source cited by Fox News, Sylvia failed three polygraph tests related to alleged leaks and was accused of meeting journalists despite media contact restrictions. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is examining the allegations.
Sylvia had served as the director of strategy, plans and policy (J5) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a role that coordinates major military plans with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. No immediate replacement has been named, and the Pentagon has not provided an explanation for the sudden termination.
A Joint Staff spokesperson expressed gratitude for Sylvia’s 32 years of service, stating that the chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force wish him and his family the best. Sylvia’s Pentagon biography has been removed from the website.
The removal follows the earlier ouster of Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, who was forced into retirement last October, and comes as Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered a 20% reduction in flag and general officer positions by January 2027. Lawmakers, including Senator Mark Kelly, have criticized the pace of senior-level personnel changes, even as supporters say the Pentagon needs stronger discipline and fewer leaks.