Pentagon J5 head fired as Trump weighs Iran strikes

Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia has been fired as the Pentagon’s chief military planner.

The removal was confirmed by a defense official speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, October 29, 2026. Sylvia served as the director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position known in military circles as the J5. He is the second general to leave this post under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee, was forced to retire in October 2025.

No immediate replacement for Sylvia has been named. The Pentagon has not provided a public reason for the dismissal. The move was first reported by The Atlantic. A spokesperson for the Joint Staff said the Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend their deepest gratitude to Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service. They added that they wish him and his family the best.

The J5 director typically coordinates military plans with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. Sylvia’s departure occurs while President Donald Trump weighs renewed strikes on Iran in an eight month war. Trump has vowed to finish the job in Iran after launching the war with Israel. He stated new strikes are an option after the midterm elections scheduled for next week. Two diplomats briefed on the matter said U.S. officials told Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for potential renewed military action. They also said allies should be ready for possible Iranian retaliation. Trump has not made a final decision on new strikes.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are moving toward the region. Before his role at the Joint Staff, Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. His official biography, which has been taken offline, notes he previously served as the vice director for the J5.

Sylvia is part of a group of nearly two dozen generals, admirals, and other military leaders who have been fired, forced to retire, or departed under Hegseth. The Pentagon has not publicly explained almost all of these departures. The group includes the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy and top uniformed officers. Hegseth ordered the military to double cuts to the number of top officers to a 20 percent decrease by January 1, 2027. There are currently about 800 flag and general officer positions. Hegseth called the cuts accountability and long overdue during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, 2026.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot, criticized the cuts as a purge that will take years to rebuild. Kelly said Hegseth has a deep seated grievance about leadership in the military. He stated that Hegseth is purging a generation of great leaders and it will take a generation to recover. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment late Wednesday.