US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed the Pentagon’s top military planner as President Donald Trump considers renewed strikes against Iran after next week’s midterm elections.
Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia was dismissed as director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a senior official. No replacement has yet been announced.
The post, known as the J5, is responsible for developing and co-ordinating military plans with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president. Its director also acts as a link between operational forces, the Defence Department’s policy team and the White House.
“Now is not the time when you’d want to lose the J5,” a former Joint Chiefs official said, describing the role as a “critical link” during a period of potential military action.
A Defence Department official said Mr Hegseth had lost confidence in General Sylvia, who had not got along with Elbridge Colby, the senior civilian responsible for policy.
The Joint Staff said in a statement: “The Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend our deepest gratitude to Lt Gen Brett Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service to our nation.”
It added: “We wish him and his family the best as they graduate to new opportunities and the next chapters of their lives.” The Pentagon had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
General Sylvia is the second officer to be removed from the J5 position during Mr Hegseth’s tenure. His predecessor, Lieutenant General Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.
Before joining the Joint Staff, General Sylvia commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025. He had also served as the J5’s vice-director.
Possible renewed strikes on Iran
The dismissal comes as Mr Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of further military operations against Iran. He has said new strikes remain an option after the midterm elections and has vowed to “finish the job”.
US officials have told Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed action after Tuesday’s elections, as well as the possibility of Iranian retaliation. Diplomats briefed on the matter said no final decision had been made.
A third US aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are also moving towards the region.
One administration view is that increasing economic pressure on Iran could help force it into negotiations to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper said a naval blockade had already cost Iran 25 billion dollars in crude oil exports.
Officials have discussed a shorter operation, similar to the US mission launched in June 2025 and known as Operation Midnight Hammer. One reported option is the use of the 21,600lb “mother of all bombs” against Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure.
However, military experts have questioned whether the weapon could penetrate the granite believed to protect the underground Pickaxe Mountain complex. The bomb is designed primarily for a vast surface blast rather than deep penetration, raising concerns that it could cause extensive damage above ground while leaving buried facilities intact.
General Sylvia’s removal is part of a wider turnover under Mr Hegseth. Nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other military leaders have been fired, forced to retire or otherwise left their posts, with most departures not publicly explained by the Pentagon.
Mr Hegseth has also ordered a 20 per cent reduction in the number of senior officer positions by January 1 2027, describing the cuts as “accountability and long overdue”. Some members of Congress have criticised the changes as a purge that could take years to rebuild.
