In a development that raises questions about press freedom within the U.S. military, the Pentagon has terminated several senior staff members of Stars & Stripes, the independent military newspaper. Reporter Lara Korte, publisher Max Lederer and editor‑in‑chief Erik Slavin were all given separation notices on Friday.
Lederer, who had announced his retirement for the end of September, wrote in a memo to staff that his “philosophy of leadership” and understanding of the newspaper’s mission differed fundamentally from the direction set by Department of Defense leadership.
According to The Washington Post, Slavin was dismissed for “insubordination” after speaking to CBS News earlier this year. CBS’s July report highlighted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempts to exert greater control over the publication.
During a recent interview, Korte said, “I consider it a great privilege to live alongside members of the military and share their stories. These firings are a shame for the institution and service members, who swore to defend the Constitution and deserve the right to a free and independent press.” She added that the team’s coverage of the ongoing conflict in Iran had been trusted by military families.
The Pentagon declined to comment directly, instead referring reporters to an open letter from Navy Capt. Bill Urban, who was appointed “military deputy to the publisher” earlier this week. Urban’s memo emphasized a need for “modernization” at Stars & Stripes and claimed he had received assurances from Pentagon leadership that editorial independence would be upheld.
Several Democratic senators have expressed concern over Urban’s appointment, writing to Secretary Hegseth that placing an active‑duty public affairs officer in senior leadership of a news outlet whose credibility depends on independence from the military chain of command raises serious questions.
Free‑speech advocates also condemned the dismissals. Will Creeley, legal director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the action “ugly and un‑American” and warned that firing journalists for raising concerns about censorship threatens the Constitution’s guarantee of a free press.
Implications for military journalism
The incident underscores ongoing tension between the Department of Defense’s desire for tighter oversight and the longstanding tradition of independent reporting by Stars & Stripes, a newspaper that traces its roots to the Civil War. While the Pentagon asserts that the changes are aimed at modernization, critics argue that the moves could erode the newspaper’s ability to report without undue influence.
Observers note that the episode may set a precedent for how the military handles internal dissent and media relations, especially as the United States continues to navigate complex overseas engagements and domestic expectations for transparency.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
