Pentagon dismisses Stars and Stripes staff after critical reporting
The Department of Defense terminated the publisher, editor and a reporter of Stars and Stripes on Aug. 21, 2026, citing insubordination following a series of stories that portrayed the Pentagon unfavorably.
Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper partially subsidized by the Department of Defense, saw its publisher Max Lederer, editor Erik Slavin and a reporter dismissed on Aug. 21, 2026 for alleged insubordination after publishing critical stories about the Pentagon. The articles detailed supply shortages, morale issues on the USS Abraham Lincoln and the chaotic evacuation of families from Bahrain’s U.S. Central Command headquarters.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the reporting mischaracterized the situation, prompting the firings. The three former staff members have sued the Pentagon, alleging retaliation and violation of free-speech protections. The dispute revives a historic debate over the newspaper’s editorial independence, which has been protected by law since the 1950s but faced new restrictions under the Trump administration in 2026. Supporters, including retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, argue that independent coverage is essential for credibility within the military.
