US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia, head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, known as the J5, a defence official said on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The firing came as President Donald Trump weighs renewed strikes on Iran, according to The Hindu.
The defence official, speaking anonymously, said there is no immediate replacement for Sylvia and that no reason has been given for the firing. A Joint Staff spokesperson thanked Sylvia and his family for 32 years of distinguished service and wished them the best, according to The Hindu. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Sylvia is the second general ousted from the J5 post under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lt Gen Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October, according to the South China Morning Post.
The firing is one of nearly two dozen departures of generals, admirals and other military leaders under Hegseth, almost all of which the Pentagon has not publicly explained, per The Hindu. Hegseth said last month that he had ordered cuts to top officers, a 20% decrease by January 1, 2027, from roughly 800 flag and general officer positions, according to The Hindu.
Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot who is critical of Hegseth, reportedly called the cuts a "purge" that will take a generation to recover from, according to The Hindu.
On Iran, Trump has vowed to "finish the job" and said new strikes are an option after the midterm elections. Two diplomats said US officials have told regional countries to prepare for possible renewed action, but Trump has not made a final decision, according to The Hindu. The diplomats’ account is unnamed and has not been verified by a second source. The Hindu also gives conflicting dates for the election, so the timing remains unconfirmed.
The key details of the firing rest on one anonymous defence official, and no on-record confirmation or stated reason has been found. The original report by The Atlantic was not available, so this coverage relies on secondary reporting.
Watch for a Pentagon explanation or a named replacement for the J5 post, and for Trump’s decision on renewed Iran strikes after the midterm elections.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.