Pentagon Ousts Stars and Stripes Leaders in Press Freedom Showdown

The Pentagon on Friday announced the termination of the editor-in-chief and publisher of Stars and Stripes, the venerable newspaper that has chronicled the US military's activities since the Civil War era. The publication's leadership confirmed the development to American media outlets.

Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief, informed CBS News that his dismissal was due to "insubordination." This followed an interview where he openly discussed disagreements with the Department of Defense. Earlier in the year, the department had indicated its intention to redirect Stars and Stripes' reporting away from what it termed "woke distractions."

Max Lederer, who has served as the publication's publisher since 2007 and had only three days prior declared his intention to retire, also received notice of his termination, according to CBS. Reporter Lara Korte similarly announced her sacking on X, stating, "Today, I was informed that the Department of Defense is firing me 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."

These separation notices came just days after the newspaper, which, despite receiving partial funding from the Department of Defense, has historically upheld its editorial independence, published an exposé on the challenging conditions faced by crewmembers aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. This report reignited criticism concerning President Donald Trump's policy regarding Iran. The aircraft carrier had been deployed in the Middle East since before the conflict began in February. Last weekend, the military announced the arrival of a new carrier strike group in the region, with Trump stating the Lincoln would be replaced.

Last month, Slavin drew attention when he resisted editorial interference from the Pentagon. During an appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning,” when questioned about his non-negotiable editorial boundaries, Slavin articulated, "‘Don’t run a perfectly accurate story, run this instead. Here it is, written by the Pentagon.’ That would be a red line.”

Publisher Lederer had announced his retirement from the paper on Tuesday, with an effective date of September 30. He chose to step down because his leadership philosophy and "understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes" diverged significantly from the Pentagon's future plans for the organization. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been a vocal critic of the media since assuming his role in 2025, leading to concerns about the independence of Stars and Stripes and other military media outlets. Shortly before Lederer's resignation announcement, US Navy Captain William Urban, an active-duty officer, was appointed as military deputy to the publisher—a move many, including Democratic lawmakers, interpreted as an attempt to undermine the publication's independence.