Pentagon dismisses Stars and Stripes leadership after editor, reporter oppose military interference

The Pentagon fired the editor‑in‑chief of Stars and Stripes and a senior reporter on Friday after they spoke publicly against what they described as immoderate interference by the Defense Department in the newspaper, which has a long history of editorial independence. The action marks the latest move by an administration that has grown increasingly assertive toward the military press. The newspaper’s publisher, who had announced his impending departure days earlier, was also dismissed. Erik Slavin, editor‑in‑chief of the outlet that receives partial funding from the Pentagon, told The Associated Press he was terminated for insubordination following an interview in which he objected to possible censorship by the U.S. military. Slavin said he received a notice of separation, as did steadfast Max Lederer — who had just announced his upcoming retirement — and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte. Slavin said he was fired “for stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of quality for service members would represent a red line.” Korte took part in the same interview. “I stand by the rule that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department’s own policies,” Slavin said. National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. denounced the firing as “another brazen effort by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military” and called for an immediate reversal. “Firing a paper employee after he publicly defended his newsroom's editorial independence is profoundly troubling, and it should concern every writer and every member of the U.S. military who depends on independent reporting,” Schoeff said. Neither Lederer nor Korte replied instantly to emailed requests for comment. Korte posted on X: “Today, I was informed that the Department of Defense is firing me for insubordination after I told a CBS reporter that I stand for Stars and Stripes — not the Pentagon, not the administration, and not any policy maker.” Earlier in the week, longtime staffer Lederer announced his retirement effective at the end of September. He said he had made the announcement a few weeks after the Pentagon installed a new deputy publisher — an active‑duty service member — under him at the paper without his prior knowledge. Three Democratic senators wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday asking why the new deputy, Navy Capt. William Urban, had been appointed. Lederer’s retirement, after three decades at Stars and Stripes and a staffer role since 2007, coincides with Hegseth’s Pentagon seeking to exert editorial control and eliminate what it labels “woke distractions.” “Stars and Stripes will be customized tailored to our warfighters,” Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s spokesman, wrote on X in January. “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.” In April, the Pentagon dismissed Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper’s ombudsman, whose role had been to protect editorial independence. Lederer, the second full‑time civilian to hold the publisher position, wrote in a staff memo this week that it had “become clear that my doctrine of leadership, and my understanding of the worth and mission of Stars and Stripes, disagree in key ways from the view the leadership of the Department of Defense has for the organization.” In a letter posted on Stars and Stripes, Deputy Publisher Urban outlined his plans, stating: “I recognize that I am now part of a team, committed to editorially independent journalism that best serves our most important customer, which is our service members, their families, and our greater military community.” “I am a media junkie who has served as a communications professional engaged in being a spokesperson for some of the hardest Public Affairs assignments in the Navy and Department of War for more than 20 years,” he wrote. It remained uncertain whether Urban, currently titled “military deputy to the publisher,” would assume the role of head publisher. “I can’t comment on what my role will be in the future,” he told the AP. In a telephone interview, Urban said Stars and Stripes employs “a strong team of professional journalists that are focused on the mission of providing our service members and their families the best possible product. That mission is going to continue. All of us in service will continue to advocate for … the best possible journalism going forward.” He noted he has no formal journalism training but pointed to his years in public affairs and communications. Urban said he would concentrate on expanding digital journalism at the paper, because its audience — primarily young service members — are “digital natives.” “I think we need to get better on the digital side,” he said, “to make sure that we are reaching as many service members as we possibly can and having the impact that we should be having.”