Le Figaro Actualités1 hour agoDefense2 min readFrance

United States: a general in charge of strategy at the Pentagon dismissed

General Brett Sylvia was dismissed from his position within the Pentagon, in a context of repeated purges within the general staff.

Quick Look

General Brett Sylvia, head of strategy at the Pentagon, has been fired.
This ouster is part of a series of purges within the US military under the Trump administration, while military tensions with Iran remain high.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Since the beginning of 2025, the Trump administration has carried out a series of evictions within the senior ranks of the American military. These changes take place in the context of war with Iran.

Font size

Washington has fired a senior officer in the American army, American media reported on Wednesday, a new major ousting at a time when American President Donald Trump appears to be considering resuming large-scale strikes against Iran. Brett Sylvia, Army general, was dismissed this week from his position as head of strategy and planning within a Pentagon body (Joint Staff), according to the American press, which relies on unidentified sources from the Ministry of Defense.

A spokesperson for this Pentagon department responsible for planning initially published a press release appearing to confirm this departure before withdrawing it. “Out of respect for the soldier in question and due to the current personnel management procedure, we will not communicate further,” he said. No reason has been given for Brett Sylvia's departure and no replacement named, according to The Atlantic. Since Donald Trump's return to the White House in early 2025, he and his government have carried out a broad purge in the highest ranks of the American military - usually rather removed from partisan political interference.

A series of evictions

In February 2025, the chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff installed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, General Charles “CQ” Brown, was ousted without justification and replaced by Dan Caine, who was leading the war with Iran. The list has grown over the months with, among others, the high-ranking officers at the head of the Navy and the Coast Guard, the NSA spy agency, the chief of staff of the Air Force and his deputy...

At the beginning of April, in the midst of the war against Iran, it was the Chief of Staff of the American Army, General Randy George, who was pushed out overnight, without the Pentagon providing any explanation either. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last month that the United States had reduced the number of its generals and admirals by 20%, a move he said was aimed at holding them “accountable”.

Open Questions

What is the official reason for Brett Sylvia's departure?
Who will replace General Sylvia?