The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has reportedly dismissed Lt Gen Brett Sylvia, a high-ranking army strategist serving on the Pentagon’s joint staff, following allegations that he disclosed classified information to the public.
The Pentagon announced on Thursday that it had referred an alleged information leak case for criminal investigation, maintaining that the removal of the senior general was essential “to protect sensitive information”, the Washington Post reported.
Sylvia had served as the director for strategy, plans and policy on the joint staff.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged the dismissal in a statement on social media, though he did not mention Sylvia by name.
“Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information,” Parnell wrote. “To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the individual or the circumstances of this action.”
“This matter, along with others, have been referred to the Justice Department for potential further legal action,” he added.
Sylvia’s removal represents one of the most significant actions so far in Hegseth’s extensive campaign to identify officials suspected of sharing information with journalists, as the unpopular US war on Iran moves into its ninth month.
In July, Hegseth announced that the Pentagon and the US Department of Justice had created a joint taskforce “to identify and prosecute” what he called the “unauthorized disclosure of sensitive” information to the press.
Last year, Hegseth implemented new restrictions governing media access that prompted legal concerns from press organizations.
Dozens of journalists surrendered their press badges rather than agree to the new media policies, which have been subject to legal challenges.
A senior Pentagon official told Reuters that Sylvia failed three separate polygraph tests, in which he was asked whether he had disclosed classified material.
“The extent of his leaking became so critical that Secretary Hegseth took immediate action and fired Sylvia in order to protect national security. Urgent action was needed and could not wait another second,” the official said, according to Reuters.
However, a colleague of Sylvia told the Washington Post that the general had consistently rejected accusations that he leaked classified information, while also acknowledging that he had previously communicated with members of the press.
In August, three journalists fired by the Pentagon from the US government-funded news outlet Stars and Stripes sued the department in federal court, arguing their dismissals were illegal and violated their first amendment rights to free speech.
