Stars and Stripes staff sue Pentagon over firings

Three fired Stars and Stripes staff members—publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte—filed a federal lawsuit on August 27, 2026, against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They allege the Pentagon retaliated against them in violation of their First Amendment rights following a CBS News interview on editorial independence and a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The lawsuit highlights growing tensions over press freedom and censorship under Hegseth's leadership.

Pentagon journalist firings lawsuit

• ▪Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte filed a federal lawsuit on August 27, 2026, challenging their August 2026 firings by the Pentagon
• ▪The three fired Stars and Stripes staff members, Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte, asked a federal judge to block their August 2026 firings while their lawsuit proceeds
• ▪The federal lawsuit filed on August 27, 2026, by Stars and Stripes staff names the U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as defendants

Press freedom restrictions

• ▪Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon has restricted press freedom by removing media offices and denying access to news outlets like HuffPost
• ▪Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon has restricted press freedom by demanding that reporters agree to terms amounting to fealty and loyalty pledges

USS Abraham Lincoln reporting

• ▪The Stars and Stripes report on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was published approximately one week before the Pentagon fired the three journalists in August 2026
• ▪The federal lawsuit alleges that Stars and Stripes staff members Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte were fired in retaliation for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

Editorial independence violations

• ▪Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer stated that the Pentagon installed an active-duty service member as a new deputy publisher under him without his prior knowledge
• ▪Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer stated that he approved the CBS News interview for Erik Slavin and Lara Korte and refused the Pentagon's requests to fire them

First Amendment retaliation claims

• ▪Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte allege they were fired for expressing their personal opinions about editorial independence during a July 2026 CBS News interview
• ▪The federal lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment free speech rights of Stars and Stripes staff members Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte

Defense Department censorship

• ▪Former Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith sued the Pentagon in June 2026, alleging she was ousted after criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's policy banning commercial news media content
• ▪During a July 2026 CBS News interview, Stars and Stripes reporter Lara Korte expressed concern about potential censorship under the Trump administration

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