Pentagon Fires Stars and Stripes Editor Over CBS Interview
The Pentagon fired the editor-in-chief, publisher, and a reporter at Stars and Stripes on Friday. All three received notices of separation citing insubordination.
- Erik Slavin says he was fired for a CBS interview opposing potential censorship of military news.
- Max Lederer had led Stars and Stripes for 19 years and announced retirement before the notice arrived.
- Middle East reporter Lara Korte also received a separation notice, according to Slavin.
- Roughly half of Stars and Stripes' $29 million annual budget comes from taxpayer funds.
Why it matters: Stars and Stripes has provided independent news to U.S. troops and their families for decades, including in remote locations with unreliable internet access.
- The Pentagon fired the paper's ombudsman — whose job was to protect editorial independence — in April.
- Three Democratic senators wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week asking why an active-duty deputy publisher was installed without Lederer's prior knowledge.
How 16 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether the firings reflect legitimate management failures at the paper or improper government pressure on an independent press outlet.
Center coverage, 6 sources: The center presents the firings as a collision between editorial independence and the administration's push to reshape Pentagon-funded media, noting the broader context of press restrictions.
Associated Press2hStars and Stripes editor says he has been fired for insubordination after doing interviewCNCTV News2hStars and Stripes editor says he has been fired for insubordination after doing interview
Deadline43mPentagon Fires Editor Of Stars And Stripes After He Gave An Interview To CBS News And Called Potential Censorship A “Red Line”
USA Today1hPentagon fires Stars and Stripes editor after censorship commentsYNYahoo News2hStars and Stripes editor says he has been fired for insubordination after doing interviewLeft coverage, 8 sources: The left frames the firings as the Trump administration silencing an independent press outlet that serves military families, part of a broader campaign against media freedom.
CBS News3hPentagon moves to fire publisher and editor of Stars and StripesTBGThe Boston Globe2hStars and Stripes editor says he was fired for insubordination
The Independent2hStars and Stripes editor says he’s being fired over censorship ‘red line’
CNN46mPentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders amid Hegseth pressure campaign
Mediaite1hPentagon Raises Fears of Independent Newspaper Takeover After Top Editors Fired For CBS Interview
MSNBC8hStars and Stripes, buckling under Hegseth, loses its longtime publisher
Raw Story30mPentagon fires Stars and Stripes reporter for saying where she works: 'Badge of honor'
Time29mPentagon Fires Editor and Publisher of U.S. Military NewspaperRight coverage, 2 sources: The right frames the removal as a justified accountability measure, citing anonymous Pentagon sources who describe Lederer as a poor performer who failed to modernize the outlet.
What’s next: Slavin and Lederer have five days to appeal their dismissals, per CBS News.
- The Defense Department declined to comment Friday; no statement has addressed the specific firings.
- Will the appeals succeed, and who will lead Stars and Stripes in the interim?
- How will the Pentagon define the paper's editorial mission after the leadership change?
- Does Congress have any authority to block or reverse the dismissals?