US Lieutenant General Brett Silvia Removed Over Leaked Classified War Documents

According to reports by Axios, US Army Lieutenant General Brett Silvia was removed from his post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over allegations of leaking classified war documents related to the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts to journalists. The removal occurred on October 28. Investigation reports indicate that Silvia admitted to sharing classified information during questioning after failing four polygraph tests.

Investigation Findings and Details

• Ukraine Military Aid: Silvia reportedly discussed US military assistance to Ukraine with a journalist using notes from classified reports during in-person meetings, though specific weapon names, quantities, and supply details were not made public.
• Iran-Related Messages: Investigators reviewed Signal app communications from June or July 2026, noting that Silvia deleted a chat while attempting to clear a message he believed was linked to Iran. US officials suspect the deletion was intentional.
• Journalist Contacts: Silvia met twice with a journalist writing a book on the Ukraine war and used the Signal app for communication, meeting at a Virginia diner after one journalist's Pentagon access was revoked.

Pentagon Response

In July 2026, the Pentagon established an investigative team with the US Department of Justice to identify officials leaking classified data to the media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced additional resources to pursue legal action against leaks, following stricter Pentagon reporting and access rules for defense journalists.