Pentagon removes Stars and Stripes newspaper leadership

The Pentagon has terminated senior leadership at Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper, according to Reuters. Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief, and Max Lederer, the longtime publisher, were among those dismissed. The newspaper's Middle East correspondent, Lara Korte, also received a dismissal notice. Slavin cited a notice accusing him of insubordination, while Lederer claimed the Pentagon had a new vision for the paper that conflicted with his own.

Korte stated the decision followed her assertion to CBS News that she served Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon. The Defense Department has not yet commented on the matter. Stars and Stripes has been operational since World War Two, delivering news to U.S. military personnel globally while maintaining editorial independence. The Pentagon recently placed a military deputy under the newspaper's publisher.

A spokesperson released an open letter from the deputy, urging Stars and Stripes to enhance its service to U.S. Armed Forces in an evolving media landscape. The leadership changes follow criticism from press freedom organizations over Trump administration policies that restricted journalists' access to the Pentagon, allegedly weakening press freedom.