Hegseth fires top Pentagon military planner, second general ousted from post
The gist
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia as the Joint Chiefs' top strategy planner.
The ouster fuels a bipartisan impeachment push and criticism of a general purge.
How it unfolded
- 2025 -05Brett Sylvia served as commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, according to his official biography, which has since been taken offline.
- 2025 -10Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, Sylvia's predecessor as J5, was forced to retire.
- Sep 30, 2026Hegseth told junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico he ordered the military to double cuts to top officers to a 20% decrease by Jan. 1, 2027, out of roughly 800 flag and general officer positions.