The military’s own newspaper is too ‘woke’ for Pete Hegseth as longtime Stars and Stripes publisher retires after decades of service

Max D. Lederer Jr., the longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes, has announced his retirement after a decades-long career with the military newspaper. The announcement comes as the Defense Department moves to exert editorial control and eliminate what it perceives as "woke distractions" from the publication. Lederer, the second full-time civilian in the position, stated that his philosophy of leadership and understanding of Stars and Stripes' mission differ fundamentally from the Department of Defense's direction for the organization, according to the memo distributed to staff.

The resignation follows a recent firing of the newspaper's ombudsman, Jacqueline Smith, who was responsible for safeguarding the paper's editorial independence. Stars and Stripes, primarily funded by the Pentagon, has a history of maintaining its editorial independence from military and government leadership. The newspaper recently reported on conditions for sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln and concerns about their mental health during the carrier's long deployment, topics that President Donald Trump had downplayed.

The Pentagon's recent actions come amid broader efforts to control media coverage of the department, including attempts to restrict journalists' access to the Pentagon and declaring its press office a classified space. These recent changes, along with increased restrictions on mainstream media, have sparked concerns over the newspaper's future editorial independence.