The U.S. Department of Defense has issued termination notices to the leadership of Stars and Stripes, the military's editorially independent newspaper. Editor-in-chief Erik Slavin stated on Friday that he was being fired for insubordination following his comments in a CBS interview regarding news censorship. The Pentagon also sent termination notices to publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte, who covers the Middle East.
Stars and Stripes has published continuously since World War II, providing news to U.S. service members globally. While the publication receives funding from the Defense Department, it has traditionally maintained editorial independence. The recent personnel changes follow efforts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to increase departmental control over the outlet. Earlier this year, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated the department intended to refocus the paper's content and modernize operations.
Slavin said his notice cited his remarks to CBS, where he described hypothetical news censorship as a "personal red line." Korte similarly attributed her firing to her statement to CBS that she works for the newspaper rather than the Pentagon. Lederer, who was already scheduled to retire at the end of September, noted in an email to staff that the Pentagon held a "new vision" for the publication that differed from his own. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the terminations.
The scale of this shift involves the removal of the paper's top executive and editorial roles simultaneously. For the individual employees, these actions result in the immediate loss of their positions and salaries. The broader military community, including those stationed at overseas bases who rely on the paper for independent reporting, will see the implementation of a new editorial direction overseen by a recently appointed military deputy to the publisher. This marks a departure from the traditional civilian-led editorial structure that has defined the outlet for decades.
The knock-on effects include a potential shift in how the military's own media covers internal Defense Department policy and leadership. Press freedom advocates have raised concerns that these moves, combined with other policy changes that limit journalist access to the Pentagon, may restrict the flow of independent information. The next steps for the organization involve the formal departure of Lederer in late September, while current staff members, such as bureau chief William Gallo, have stated they intend to continue their work under the paper's existing legal mandate as the leadership transition proceeds.