U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has dismissed Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This decision follows social media criticism from Laura Loomer directed at Sylvia's son. The Pentagon has already removed Sylvia's biography from its website. His dismissal comes amid discussions of military actions against Iran as the midterm elections approach. Hegseth has been actively restructuring the Defense Department since January 2025, having previously dismissed a significant number of senior officers.
Key facts
- Pete Hegseth dismissed Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Laura Loomer criticized Sylvia's son, prompting calls for action against both.
- Sylvia's biography has been removed from the Pentagon's website.
- This is the second dismissal from the J5 position since Trump returned to office.
- Hegseth has purged approximately 10 percent of senior officers since January 2025.
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