{"id":7335,"date":"2026-11-02T01:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antipolygraph.org\/blog\/?p=7335"},"modified":"2026-11-02T01:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:45:48","slug":"ltg-brett-sylvia-fired-after-allegedly-failing-multiple-polygraph-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antipolygraph.org\/blog\/2026\/11\/02\/ltg-brett-sylvia-fired-after-allegedly-failing-multiple-polygraph-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"LTG Brett Sylvia Fired After Allegedly Failing Multiple Polygraph “Tests”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a>
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, J5, Joint Staff\/Senior Member, United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff, poses for an official portrait in the Army portrait studio at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia., Dec. 30, 2025.\n(U.S. Army photo by William Pratt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On Thursday, 29 October 2026, Greg Jaffe reported for the New York Times<\/em> in an article titled “Hegseth Fires General He Accused of Leaking Information to the News Media”<\/a> that U.S. Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia had been dismissed earlier that week. Excerpt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired a top Army general this week after accusing him of leaking classified information related to Iran and Russia to the news media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, a highly regarded officer and combat veteran, was serving on the Joint Staff as the director of strategy when he was removed. His dismissal is part of a broad and extraordinary campaign<\/a> to use polygraph tests to find and punish leakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scope of the investigation is without parallel. Mass polygraph tests have never been administered to the top ranks of the U.S. military in modern history. Senior Pentagon officials did not offer any details or proof in support of the leaking allegations leveled against General Sylvia beyond a statement that said he had failed three polygraph exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department \u201chas zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorized disclosure of classified information,\u201d Sean Parnell, the Pentagon\u2019s chief spokesman, said in a statement. \u201cAnyone who compromises sensitive national security information puts the lives of our warriors at risk and undermines every military operation that keeps our country safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Parnell said that there was \u201can extensive\u201d investigation into the leaking allegations and that Mr. Hegseth \u201ctook necessary personnel action to protect sensitive information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pentagon official said that the investigation into General Sylvia has been referred to the Justice Department for further action, though it is unclear whether investigators have uncovered any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Justice Department spokeswoman did not comment specifically on General Sylvia but said investigations of possible leaks of classified information are continuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Mr. Hegseth accused three members of his immediate staf<\/a>f of leaking classified information, promised a full investigation and suggested, without offering proof, that a Pentagon investigation had already uncovered evidence of their guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 18 months later, that investigation has turned up no proof that the three officials \u2014 Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick \u2014 committed any wrongdoing. Mr. Caldwell was rehired earlier this year<\/a> by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August, U.S. government investigators subjected roughly 50 members of the U.S. military\u2019s Joint Staff to polygraph tests over leaks to journalists, including about how the war with Iran has created a shortage of crucial munitions, according to officials briefed on the move. Because they are viewed as unreliable, polygraph tests<\/a> are not admissible as evidence at a court-martial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The polygraph tests followed a flurry of news reports that detailed diminished stocks<\/a> of long-range missiles, Patriot interceptors and other crucial munitions. The show of force appeared aimed at not just ferreting out anyone who may have shared information but also intimidating others who might do so in the future, according to people with knowledge of the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1,500 and 2,000 officers and officials work for the Joint Staff, which coordinates operations, policy and war plans with combatant commanders around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Sylvia\u2019s firing was reported on Wednesday night by The Atlantic<\/a>. In the immediate aftermath of his dismissal, a spokesman for the Joint Staff put out a statement commending him for \u201chis 32 years of distinguished service to our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wish him and his family the best as they graduate to new opportunities and the next chapters of their lives,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday morning, a Joint Staff spokesman retracted the first statement and issued a new one that said: \u201cOut of respect for the service member and the ongoing personnel process, we will not comment further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the investigation, General Sylvia acknowledged that he knew and had conversations with at least one journalist while serving on the Joint Staff but denied sharing any sensitive or classified information, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to share sensitive information. Senior Pentagon officials, including members of Mr. Hegseth\u2019s staff, frequently talk to reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general\u2019s dismissal shocked and angered many current and retired senior Army officers. They described him as a loyal officer who had served bravely in combat and thought deeply about how the military needed to adapt and embrace new technology to fight future wars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about the firing on Thursday, President Trump mistook General Sylvia for a woman: \u201cShe\u2019s got problems,\u201d Mr. Trump said. \u201cShe\u2019s going to have big problems. We\u2019re very much looking for leakers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Sylvia worked directly for Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Also on 29 October 2026, Marc Caputo and Thomas Novelly reported for Axios on Sylvia’s firing in an article titled “Exclusive: Fired general admitted to leaking classified Iran and Ukraine info, report says,”<\/a> citing an “internal report” provided by a source who was unwilling to be named. Their report is cited here in full:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The Pentagon’s top military planner<\/a> admitted to leaking classified information about Ukraine and Iran<\/a> to two reporters from separate outlets over a one-year period, according to an internal report of the investigation shared with Axios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why it matters:<\/strong> Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was fired this week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a> for the alleged misconduct, which the career soldier acknowledged on video after he failed four polygraph tests, a U.S. official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n