Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leadership for alleged insubordination

On August 21, 2026, the Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte for alleged insubordination. The dismissals stem from Slavin and Korte's participation in a CBS interview defending the paper's editorial independence against Pentagon modernization overhauls led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Press advocates and lawmakers have condemned the firings as a dangerous attempt to censor the historically independent military publication.

Leadership termination notices

• ▪Max Lederer, who had served as Stars and Stripes publisher for 19 years, had previously announced on August 18, 2026, his intention to retire effective September 30, 2026.
• ▪The Pentagon's termination notices granted the fired Stars and Stripes personnel five days to appeal their dismissals.
• ▪The Pentagon issued separation notices on August 21, 2026, to Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte.

Pentagon editorial control efforts

• ▪In January 2026, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced an overhaul to refocus Stars and Stripes content away from what he described as woke distractions that siphon morale.
• ▪Jacqueline Smith filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense in June 2026, alleging her firing as Stars and Stripes ombudsman was retaliatory.
• ▪An internal Pentagon memo in March 2026 revealed a modernization plan requiring Stars and Stripes content to align with good order and discipline under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
• ▪The Pentagon installed Navy Captain William Urban as military deputy to the publisher at Stars and Stripes without the prior knowledge of publisher Max Lederer.
• ▪The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith in April 2026 after she criticized the agency's plans to overhaul the newspaper.

CBS interview insubordination charges

• ▪Erik Slavin stated he was fired for insubordination after asserting in a CBS interview that hypothetical military censorship of Stars and Stripes would constitute a red line.
• ▪The firings of Erik Slavin and Lara Korte stemmed from their unauthorized participation in a CBS Sunday Morning segment and Max Lederer's refusal to fire them.
• ▪Lara Korte stated she was fired for insubordination after telling a CBS reporter that she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon, administration, or policy makers.

Editorial independence legal mandate

• ▪Stars and Stripes receives part of its funding from the Department of Defense but has a legally mandated history of editorial independence.
• ▪Stars and Stripes Europe and Middle East bureau chief William Gallo sent an email assuring staff that the newspaper would continue independent journalism under its legal mandate.

Press freedom advocacy responses

• ▪Three Democratic senators wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on August 20, 2026, questioning the unannounced installation of Navy Captain William Urban at Stars and Stripes.
• ▪National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. condemned the firing of Erik Slavin as a brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate military news coverage.

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