Pentagon dismisses senior Stars & Stripes staff amid concerns over editorial independence

The Pentagon has terminated reporter Lara Korte, publisher Max Lederer and editor-in-chief Erik Slavin of Stars & Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper known for its editorial independence. The dismissals were reported by CBS News and The Washington Post and confirmed by Korte to CNN.

Lederer, who had announced plans to retire at the end of September, said in a staff memo that his leadership philosophy and view of the newspaper’s mission differed fundamentally from the direction of Department of Defense leadership.

According to The Washington Post, Slavin was dismissed for "insubordination" after speaking to CBS News earlier in the year about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempts to influence the outlet. CBS correspondent David Martin later interviewed Slavin and Korte about their reporting efforts.

The Pentagon declined to comment, directing inquiries to an open letter from Navy Capt. Bill Urban, newly appointed as military deputy to the publisher. Urban’s memo emphasized a need for "modernization" and claimed he had received assurances from Pentagon officials that editorial independence would be maintained.

Several Democratic senators wrote to Secretary Hegseth expressing concern that placing an active-duty public affairs officer in senior leadership could compromise the newspaper’s credibility. Free-speech advocates also criticized the firings, with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression describing the actions as contrary to American values.