Pentagon Fires 3 Stars and Stripes Staffers for ‘Insubordination’

Three staff members from Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon-funded military newspaper, have been fired for insubordination after publicly criticizing the Defense Department's plans to overhaul the publication. Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte all received separation notices, per the Washington Post.

A Pentagon official confirmed the notices and directed TheWrap to an open letter from active-duty Navy public affairs officer Capt. William Urban, Lederer's new deputy. Korte alleged in a now-deleted X post that she was fired for stating she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon or any administration. Slavin claimed he was dismissed after stating that censoring news for service members would be a "red line."

Lederer, who had led the paper for 19 years, announced his retirement plans, citing fundamental disagreements with the Pentagon's direction. The Pentagon had been contemplating Lederer's removal prior to his scheduled retirement, according to CBS News. The dismissals come amid a long-standing dispute over Stars and Stripes' future, with the department aiming to reduce "woke distractions" and emphasize military-focused content.

The newspaper's employees are federal workers, and its journalism enjoys protections from Congress. The Pentagon's move to install Urban as deputy without Lederer's input raised concerns among lawmakers, staff, and the publication's advisory board about undermining civilian leadership and independence. The department also fired ombudsman Jacqueline Smith in April after she criticized the changes, with Smith subsequently suing, alleging her dismissal was retaliatory and violated her First Amendment rights.