The US Pentagon has terminated the editor, publisher, and a reporter of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. According to the individuals, the dismissals occurred after they publicly expressed opposition to perceived editorial interference. The newspaper, which has a history dating back to World War II, receives partial funding from the Department of Defense but has maintained editorial autonomy.

Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin stated that the notice of his termination cited insubordination for expressing in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would be a personal "red line." The publisher, Max Lederer, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte also received similar notices for insubordination. Lederer, who had announced his upcoming retirement, had previously indicated that the Pentagon had a new strategic direction for the publication that differed from his own. The situation was further complicated by the Pentagon's appointment of an active-duty serviceman, Navy Captain William Urban, as deputy editor without Lederer's prior knowledge.

Reporter Lara Korte explained on social media that her dismissal was due to insubordination after she informed a CBS reporter that her allegiance was to Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon, any administration, or policymakers. She expressed dismay, stating it was a disservice to the institution and service members who have sworn to uphold the Constitution and deserve access to a free and independent press.

The dismissals come amid a period of increased scrutiny of the media by the Pentagon. Following his appointment in 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been critical of the media and has notably restricted press access to the Pentagon. A spokesman for Hegseth, Sean Parnell, previously stated in January that Stars and Stripes would be restructured to "focus on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability and ALL THINGS MILITARY," explicitly excluding "repurposed DC gossip columns" and "Associated Press reprints."

The National Press Club President, Mark Schoeff Jr., condemned Slavin's firing as a "brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military" and called for its immediate reversal. Schoeff emphasized that dismissing a newspaper editor for defending editorial independence is deeply concerning and should alarm all journalists and military personnel who rely on independent reporting.

---

English Translation:

Pentagon Fires Military Newspaper Leadership for 'Insubordination'

The US Pentagon has dismissed the editor, publisher, and a reporter of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes after they publicly objected to potential editorial interference, they stated on Friday. The newspaper, which has been publishing since World War II, is partly funded by the Defense Department but has maintained editorial independence.

Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin said in a statement on Friday that he received a notice of separation for insubordination, citing his declaration in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a personal "red line." Publisher Max Lederer and Middle East reporter Lara Korte also received similar notices for insubordination. Lederer, who has served as publisher since 2007, had announced his intention to retire in September, noting in an email that the Pentagon had a new vision for the newspaper that differed from his own. This occurred a few weeks after the Pentagon appointed Navy Captain William Urban, an active-duty serviceman, as the outlet's deputy editor without Lederer's prior knowledge.

Meanwhile, Korte stated on social media that she was being fired for insubordination "after I told a CBS reporter that I work for Stars and Stripes – not the Pentagon, not any administration, and not any policy maker." She added, "It's a shame for the institution and service members, who swore to defend the Constitution and deserve the right to a free and independent press."

The Pentagon's relationship with the media under the current administration has been strained. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who took office in 2025, has been highly critical of the media and has significantly restricted press access to the Pentagon. Sean Parnell, Hegseth's spokesman, wrote on X in January that Stars and Stripes "will be custom tailored to our warfighters. It will focus on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability and ALL THINGS MILITARY. No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more Associated Press reprints."

National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. called Slavin's firing "another brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military" and urged its immediate reversal. Schoeff stated, "Firing a newspaper editor after he publicly defended his newsroom's editorial independence is deeply troubling, and it should concern every journalist and every member of the US military who depends on independent reporting."