Federal judge refuses to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes staffers

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden has refused to block the Pentagon from firing three Stars and Stripes staffers, including publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte. The terminations followed their reporting on a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and subsequent comments opposing military censorship during a CBS News interview. While the journalists argue their First Amendment rights were violated, Judge McFadden ruled they spoke as public employees rather than private citizens.

Pentagon staff terminations

• ▪U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden refused to block the Pentagon from firing three Stars and Stripes staff members, ruling they were unlikely to prove their First Amendment rights were violated
• ▪Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte filed a lawsuit challenging their terminations by the Pentagon
• ▪Max Lederer was dismissed by the Pentagon shortly after announcing his impending retirement and after refusing to fire Erik Slavin and Lara Korte
• ▪The Pentagon fired Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte for insubordination after Slavin and Korte objected to potential military censorship during a CBS News interview

USS Abraham Lincoln conditions

• ▪Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that reports regarding the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were completely misrepresented
• ▪Stars and Stripes and the Military Times reported on a mental health crisis and deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during an extended 250-day deployment

First Amendment claims

• ▪The plaintiffs' lawsuit alleges they were punished in retaliation for publishing a report on the deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
• ▪Democracy Defenders Fund attorney Taryn Wilgus Null stated that the judge's decision reflects the high burden for a preliminary injunction and that they expect to prevail after discovery

Judge McFadden ruling

• ▪Judge Trevor McFadden previously ruled against the Trump administration in an Associated Press lawsuit, ordering the White House to restore the news organization's access on First Amendment grounds
• ▪Judge Trevor McFadden concluded that Erik Slavin and Lara Korte gave their CBS News interviews as part of their official duties as public employees rather than as private citizens

Editorial independence dispute

• ▪Max Lederer revealed that the Pentagon installed an active-duty service member as a new deputy publisher at Stars and Stripes without his knowledge
• ▪Max Lederer stated that chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell and deputy Andrew Brey demanded the firings of Erik Slavin and Lara Korte for providing their personal opinions

Pentagon propaganda concerns

• ▪Max Lederer stated that Pentagon officials want more command information written directly by public affairs officials published in Stars and Stripes
• ▪Max Lederer characterized the Pentagon's push for public affairs content as a form of propaganda if it goes beyond facts to present a particular viewpoint

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