Fired Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, who served as director of the Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly admitted to leaking classified information, according to the Pentagon’s internal investigation.
As The Gateway Pundit reported earlier, Sylvia was fired from the Joint Chiefs of Staff this week for “severe misconduct,” including leaking classified information on the Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars, a Department of War official said.
He was also criminally referred to the Department of Justice, as an investigation into his leaks remains ongoing.
Now, Axios is reporting that, according to the Pentagon’s records from an internal investigation, Sylvia even admitted to leaking classified information about the wars to at least two reporters from different outlets over one year beginning as early as June 2025.
Sylvia “was cooperative with answering questions about interactions with the media to resolve this, and provided his personal phone for a forensics examination,” according to the report.
During one of his meetings at a diner in Arlington, Virginia, Sylvia “relied on notes he took while reviewing a classified secret report to orally give redacted on U.S. assistance to Ukraine,” while meeting with a reporter who had his Pentagon access revoked. Sylvia “did not coordinate these meetings with [the Pentagon’s Public Affairs Office], or seek to have the information reviewed before providing it to the reporter,” according to the report.
Sylvia further “admitted to being one of the 20 officials” attacking the Pentagon’s leadership under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and President Trump.
The Pentagon pointed us to Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell’s social media statement on Sylvia’s firing when asked for comment.
The Department of War 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.
Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. 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.
Classified information is not personal property. Leaking it for personal, political or professional gain is a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for keeping it.
Our commitment was not an empty promise. We vowed to find you, and we meant it.
The Department of War 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.
Following an extensive Air Force OSI investigation, the Department took necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information. 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.
Classified information is not personal property. Leaking it for personal, political or professional gain is a betrayal of the trust placed in those responsible for keeping it.
Our commitment was not an empty promise. We vowed to find you, and we meant it.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) October 29, 2026
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