Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders after they criticise interference

Washington: The Pentagon dismissed the editor-in-chief and publisher of Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has reported on the US military since the Civil War, according to the publication's leadership. Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief, claimed he was fired for insubordination after an interview where he criticized the Department of Defence.

Max Lederer, the publisher, was also terminated, having announced his retirement just three days prior. A reporter, Lara Korte, stated she was fired for insubordination after she told CBS that she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon or any administration. The Pentagon's move came after the newspaper reported on challenging conditions for crew members on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was deployed prior to the Middle East conflict that began in February.

Slavin had previously resisted Pentagon editorial interference, stating that he would not run a story that was not accurate. Lederer, who had been the publisher since 2007, resigned due to a fundamental disagreement with the Pentagon's plans for the organization. The Navy's top military official, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, has been vocal in his criticism of the media, leading to concerns about the independence of Stars and Stripes and other military publications.