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Composite story

Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes publisher, editor, and reporter

Defense officials on Friday dismissed Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte after a CBS interview in which Slavin called censorship of news for troops a red line. The Pentagon-funded paper has long claimed editorial independence.

The Pentagon on Friday fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte, citing insubordination tied to a July CBS interview. Slavin said he was dismissed for calling censorship of news for service members a red line. Korte said she told CBS she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon. Lederer had announced his retirement days earlier, saying his view of the paper’s mission differed from Defense leadership. The outlet is funded by the Defense Department but has historically been editorially independent. Journalism groups condemned the firings; the Pentagon confirmed them and said the three have five days to appeal.

Shared facts

The Pentagon on Friday fired the publisher, editor-in-chief, and a reporter at Stars and Stripes.

Termination notices cited insubordination.

Stars and Stripes is funded by the Defense Department but has historically been editorially independent.

Slavin said he was fired for stating that censorship of news for service members would be a red line.

Those dismissed were publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte.

Lederer had announced his retirement this week, set for the end of September.

The firings were tied to a CBS News interview last month.

Pentagon leaders under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have derided the newspaper as “woke.”

Lederer said his understanding of Stars and Stripes’ mission differed from Pentagon leadership.

The Pentagon recently appointed Navy Capt. Bill Urban as military deputy to the publisher.

The New York Times

Pentagon Fires Editor and Publisher of Independent Military Publication

The New York Times

21 Aug 2026

Facts

The firings came about 10 days after reporting on hardships aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Opinion

The firings raise questions about the Pentagon’s willingness to protect the paper’s editorial integrity.

CNN

Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders amid Hegseth pressure campaign

CNN

21 Aug 2026

Facts

No unique facts.

Opinion

The firings are a blow to press freedoms within the U.S. military.

The Washington Post

Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders who criticized DOD’s interference

Scott Nover and Liam Scott

21 Aug 2026

Facts

The three employees have a five-day period to appeal.

Opinion

The paper’s independence has come under threat in the second Trump administration.

Reuters

Pentagon fires U.S. military newspaper leadership

Reuters

21 Aug 2026

Facts

Korte said she was fired for telling CBS she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Stars and Stripes

Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes editor, publisher and reporter

Svetlana Shkolnikova and Rose L. Thayer

21 Aug 2026

Facts

Slavin became the paper’s top editor in September 2025.

Korte said military families and service members have trusted the paper to share their experience.

Opinion

No opinion marked.