Fired Stars and Stripes journalists sue Pentagon over layoffs.
Publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte filed suit Thursday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. All three were given separation notices last week, with insubordination cited as the cause.
- Slavin and Korte say their firings stem from a CBS interview defending editorial independence.
- The complaint also cites retaliation for a report on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- 165 years old, Stars and Stripes draws roughly half its funding from the Defense Department.
- Defendants include Hegseth, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, and deputy public affairs official Andrew Brey.
Why it matters: Stars and Stripes serves U.S. servicemembers and their families stationed overseas. Its website states it is editorially independent and governed by First Amendment principles, even as the Pentagon partially funds it.
- The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the firings unlawful and bar the Pentagon from proceeding with the terminations.
How 20 sources split on this story
Where they split: The central dispute is whether the firings are lawful discipline for insubordination or unconstitutional retaliation for protected speech.
Center coverage, 5 sources: The center presents the lawsuit as a First Amendment test case with broad implications for government-funded journalism.
USA Today8hFired Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon, Hegseth
The Hill8h3 Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon over firings at military news outletNewNews4Jax8hStars and Stripes publisher, editor and reporter sue Pentagon to challenge their firings
Stars and Stripes9hFired Stars and Stripes staffers file lawsuit against Pentagon, HegsethWPWPXI Pittsburgh8hStars and Stripes publisher, editor and reporter sue Pentagon to challenge their firingsLeft coverage, 9 sources: The left frames the firings as a deliberate White House campaign to silence independent military journalism and suppress unflattering coverage.
MSNBC8hStars and Stripes journalists sue Defense Department over attempted firings
CBS News9hFired Stars and Stripes journalists sue Hegseth and Pentagon spokespersonTBGThe Boston Globe7hStars and Stripes staff sue Pentagon to challenge their firings
The Independent6hStars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon over firings alleging First Amendment violations
Al Jazeera3hFired Stars and Stripes journalists sue Trump administration for censorship
CNN6hFired Stars and Stripes staff sue Pentagon, alleging First Amendment violations
Political Wire9hFired Journalists From ‘Stars and Stripes’ Sue Pentagon
Raw Story8hFired journalists slap Hegseth with damning lawsuit over report he tried to burySFCSan Francisco Chronicle19hTrump wants to keep Stars and Stripes from telling truth about warRight coverage, 6 sources: The right frames the dismissals as a personnel action for documented insubordination, not a press freedom issue.
Washington Examiner8hStars and Stripes employees sue Pentagon to block firings for insubordination
Fox News4hFired Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon, allege retaliation and First Amendment violation
New York Post6hLongtime Stars and Stripes leaders suing Hegseth, Pentagon to challenge their firings from military newspaper
Newsmax6hFormer Stars and Stripes Staffers Sue Trump Administration
The Gateway Pundit5hThree Stars and Stripes Staffers Sue Trump Pentagon, Demand Reinstatement and Back Pay After “Insubordination” Dispute * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hᴏft
The Washington Times8hStars and Stripes publisher, editor and reporter sue Pentagon to challenge their firingsWhat’s next: The court must rule on the plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order.
- The Pentagon has not commented on the lawsuit's specific allegations.
- Will the court grant a temporary restraining order before the firings take full effect?
- What specific editorial directives, if any, did Pentagon officials attempt to impose on Stars and Stripes?