Hegseth removes Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from Pentagon strategy role

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his post as the Pentagon’s Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy on Tuesday, the Hill reported. Sylvia, a career officer who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Pacific, had overseen the department’s long‑range planning and coordination of joint operations. His departure marks the latest senior removal since Hegseth took office in early 2025, adding to a string of high‑profile exits that have raised questions about stability in the defense establishment.

Hegseth’s tenure has been defined by a push to reshape the Pentagon’s strategic outlook amid rising great‑power competition and tightening budgets. In the past two years, the secretary has ordered a review of the National Defense Strategy, demanded tighter integration of cyber and space capabilities, and called for a “leaner, faster” decision‑making process. Critics say the rapid turnover of senior staff reflects friction between the civilian leadership’s reform agenda and the military’s traditional planning processes. Sylvia’s removal follows a recent internal memo that flagged disagreements over how the new strategy should balance conventional force modernization with emerging technologies.

The Pentagon said an interim director will assume Sylvia’s duties while a senior civilian official is vetted for the permanent role. Sources close to the office said the move was intended to accelerate the rollout of the revised strategy, which is expected to be presented to Congress later this year. Congressional leaders, including the chairs of the Armed Services committees, have asked for a briefing on the impact of the leadership change on ongoing defense projects. The next few weeks will reveal whether the shake‑up speeds up policy implementation or deepens uncertainty within the department.