Stars and Stripes leaders fired as deputy posts open letter
The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte on Friday, as Navy Capt. Bill Urban—the military deputy to the publisher—issued an open letter promising modernization and editorial independence amid a Defense Department pressure campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte received separation notices Friday.
- Navy Capt. Bill Urban’s open letter says the outlet needs modernization and cites Pentagon assurances on independence.
- Slavin says he was fired for “insubordination” after a CBS interview drawing a red line against censorship.
- Democratic senators and free-speech advocates warned that an active-duty public affairs officer in Stars and Stripes leadership threatens credibility.
The firings land as Stars and Stripes, the long-running U.S. military newspaper, faces what CNN called a blow to press freedoms within the military under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Coverage of the shake-up also sits in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub as debates over who controls information for service members intensify.
What did Capt. Bill Urban say in the open letter?
According to CNN, the Pentagon declined comment and pointed reporters to Urban’s Friday open letter on the Stars and Stripes site. Urban was appointed military deputy to the publisher earlier this week.
In the memo, Urban introduced himself, argued that Stars and Stripes needs “modernization,” and said he received “multiple assurances” from Pentagon leadership that officials remain committed to the outlet’s editorial independence. The letter is framed as a message to stakeholders from the military deputy to the publisher.
Why were Stars and Stripes leaders fired?
Slavin told the Associated Press he was dismissed for insubordination after stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a “red line.” He said he stands by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent.
CBS News and The Washington Post first reported the separation notices. Per reporting cited by CNN, Slavin was told he was dismissed for “insubordination” for speaking to CBS earlier this year. In July, “CBS Sunday Morning” detailed Hegseth’s efforts to exert control over the paper.
Lederer had already announced he would retire at the end of September. In a staff memo he wrote that his leadership philosophy and understanding of Stars and Stripes’ mission “differ in fundamental ways from the direction the leadership of the Department of Defense has for the organization.” He still received a separation notice, as did Middle East reporter Lara Korte.
Korte told CNN the firings are “a shame for the institution and service members,” adding she is proud of recent coverage of the protracted conflict in Iran and of sharing military families’ experiences.
Why does this matter for press freedom in the military?
Stars and Stripes traces its roots to the Civil War and has long operated with editorial independence even while receiving substantial Defense Department support—about 65% of its funding, Slavin has noted. Democratic senators objected this week to placing an active-duty public affairs officer in senior leadership, warning it “raises serious questions” about independence from the military chain of command.
Will Creeley of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the dismissals “Ugly and un-American,” saying journalists were fired for complaining about censorship. The dispute follows Pentagon messaging about modernizing Stars and Stripes and refocusing content—and comes after the outlet’s reporting on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during a record Middle East deployment.
For service members who rely on Stars and Stripes, the open letter’s independence pledges will be judged against Friday’s firings—and whether the paper can keep reporting without fear of command retaliation.