Hegseth Removes Army General as U.S. Builds Carrier Presence in Middle East

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia on Thursday. Sylvia had served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and oversaw planning and policy at the Pentagon. His removal occurs as the United States and Israel prepare for a potential new round of attacks against Iran.

The Pentagon is investigating a leak related to the situation but has not released specific details. Hegseth has removed several high-ranking military officials in recent months, often without providing public explanations. NPR correspondent Greg Myre stated that these firings have disrupted senior military operations.

The military buildup in the region is substantial. The United States currently operates two aircraft carriers in the Arabian Sea. A third vessel, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, is en route. Myre noted that stationing three carriers in one region is unusual for the United States. The last time the nation deployed three carriers to the Middle East was during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Although Sylvia held a senior position in strategy and planning, he was not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the Iran conflict. His departure adds to a pattern of turnover in the defense leadership while the administration prepares for potential kinetic action.

In Alaska, the governor ordered an investigation into the state's U.S. Senate race following a report by The New York Times. The report revealed that Democratic campaign operatives were attempting to recruit a candidate who shares the name of the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan. Republicans claim the move could confuse voters and siphon support from the incumbent.

Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, is seeking to flip the seat. Alaska Public Media spoke with election law experts who found no applicable laws prohibiting the conduct. However, the experts noted that the actions described cross moral and ethical lines.

The investigation adds pressure to a race that polling data suggests is a toss-up. The outcome in Alaska could influence the final balance of power in the Senate as Election Day approaches on Tuesday.

In Los Angeles, the Department of Justice subpoenaed election workers. The action is part of rising tensions between the Trump administration and California officials. The administration is working to identify noncitizens on voter rolls, a process that has drawn scrutiny from state leaders.

Thousands of military veterans have faced higher interest rates and monthly payments since last year. The Trump administration shut down the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program, or VASP, which had helped veterans who fell behind on payments. The program, created under the Biden administration, rolled missed payments into new low-interest mortgages.

An NPR investigation found that more than 15,000 veterans experienced monthly payment increases of at least $150 after their loans were modified due to financial hardship. More than 700 veterans saw their payments rise by $1,000 or more. The mortgage industry had warned the administration to create a viable replacement before ending the program.