Three senior staff members of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes have filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, alleging that they were unlawfully terminated for exercising their First Amendment rights. The plaintiffs – former editor‑in‑chief Erik Slavin, former publisher Max Lederer, and former reporter Lara Korte – say they were charged with insubordination after publicly supporting the paper’s editorial independence.
Allegations of retaliation
The complaint asserts that the Department of Defense retaliated against the trio for a story exposing deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its deployment in the Middle East. The lawsuit also names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, and public‑affairs official Andrew Brey as defendants, and seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent relief.
Background on the publication
Although partially funded by the Pentagon, Stars and Stripes operates like a commercial newspaper and has a long history of editorial independence. In January, the Pentagon announced plans to “modernize” the outlet and shift its focus away from what officials called “woke distractions,” simultaneously moving to repeal regulations that protected its independence.
Timeline of events
According to the filing, the Department’s concerns began after an eight‑minute segment on CBS Sunday Morning on July 5 featured Slavin and Korte discussing the proposed changes to the paper’s independence. The Pentagon allegedly deemed their comments personal opinions and took no immediate action.
On August 12, the department directed publisher Max Lederer to present notices of separation to Slavin and Korte, citing the CBS statements as insubordination. Lederer announced his retirement effective September 30, but three days later was forced out before that date, and Slavin and Korte were also terminated.
Legal claims
The lawsuit contends that the dismissals violate Department of Defense regulations, stating the employees “committed no misconduct” and that the termination procedures were not properly followed. The plaintiffs also request that the recent repeal of the editorial‑independence regulations be declared unlawful.
Pentagon response
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
