Wire reporting: (AP, via CNBC)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia as director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff, U.S. officials told multiple news organizations on Wednesday^1,2,5.

A Pentagon official speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity said Sylvia was accused of leaking classified information related to the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war, failed three polygraph tests about sharing classified information with the press, and that the matter was referred to the Justice Department^1,4.

Other accounts did not report those allegations^2,5. The Associated Press, carried by Japan Today and cited by CNBC, said a defense official reported no reason given for the firing and no immediate replacement^2,3. The Hill, carried by WFLA, said two U.S. officials described the removal this week and that the reason was unclear⁵.

Sylvia held the Joint Staff post known as J5, which coordinates military plans for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president^1,5. He is the second officer removed from that job under Hegseth; Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee was forced to retire last October^1,3,5.

A Joint Staff spokesperson said the chairman, Joint Staff and Joint Force thanked Sylvia and his family for 32 years of service and wished them well^1,5. CNBC, citing ABC News, said two people familiar with the matter said Sylvia has retired².

The Atlantic first reported the firing, outlets said^1,3,5. Before the Joint Staff, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025; his official biography has been taken offline, CBS and AP reported^1,3.

The personnel move comes as President Donald Trump has discussed possible new military action against Iran after next week's midterm elections, according to the same reports^1,2,3. WFLA, citing The Hill, said U.S. Central Command has drawn up Iran attack plans that could proceed after the elections if the White House authorizes them⁵.

CNBC, citing AP, said U.S. officials told some Middle East countries to prepare for possible renewed action and for Iranian retaliation². CBS said a third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are moving to the region¹.

Separately, CNBC said the Wall Street Journal reported that Vice President JD Vance sent a letter seeking to revive Iran talks; Trump told reporters he downplayed the idea². Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that Iran continues to give diplomacy a chance, referring to a 7-day plan Tehran has tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz².

Outlets noted Hegseth has removed or pushed out nearly two dozen senior officers, with few public explanations^1,5. Hegseth has described planned cuts to flag and general officer ranks as accountability; Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., has criticized the reductions as a purge that would take years to reverse^1,3.

What remains unknown includes whether Sylvia will contest the allegations CBS reported, who will fill the J5 job, and whether Trump will order new strikes on Iran^1,2,5.