The Pentagon initiated the process to terminate the publisher and editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes on Friday, alongside a reporter covering the Middle East. The military news outlet, which receives approximately half of its $29 million annual budget from taxpayers, was notified that Publisher Max Lederer and Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin have five days to appeal their separation notices. Reporter Lara Korte confirmed she also received a dismissal notice.
Officials cited insubordination as the primary reason for the actions. Both Slavin and Korte indicated that the charges stem from interviews they provided to for a report that aired in July. In that segment, Slavin was questioned about potential red lines in editorial independence, to which he responded that being ordered to run Pentagon-written content instead of accurate reporting would constitute such a boundary.
Slavin stated he intends to contest the firing through the formal process. He emphasized that he stands by the necessity of editorial independence, which he noted is mandated by law and internal department policies. According to the notice he received, the Pentagon’s public affairs office specifically cited his comments regarding censorship as the basis for the insubordination charge.
Korte expressed disappointment regarding the developments, describing the move as a disservice to the institution and the service members who rely on the outlet. She maintained that her work is dedicated to covering the military community rather than serving the interests of any specific administration or policymaker. Korte had previously highlighted her commitment to independent reporting during the same July broadcast.
The Department of Defense declined to provide a comment when contacted regarding the dismissals. Shortly after the news emerged, Capt. William Urban, who was recently appointed as military deputy to the publisher, released an open letter outlining his priorities. Urban stated he intends to focus on modernizing operations, increasing advertising revenue, and maintaining high-quality, independent reporting, while noting he would not dwell on past conflicts.
Lederer, who has led the outlet for 19 years, had previously informed his staff that he planned to retire on September 30. He cited fundamental disagreements with the current direction of the Department of Defense leadership. Prior to the formal notices, reports indicated that Pentagon officials had been discussing his removal ahead of his scheduled departure date.
Stars and Stripes continues to serve an average of 1.4 million readers daily, providing critical information to military families and personnel, particularly those in remote locations with limited internet access. Despite a decline in readership from its historical peaks during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and World War II, the outlet remains a primary source for service members.
Tensions have recently surfaced regarding the outlet’s coverage of military conditions. For instance, Stars and Stripes and the Military Times reported on concerns regarding mental health and self-harm risks aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. While high-ranking officials, including President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, downplayed or disputed these reports, the aircraft carrier recently concluded its nine-month deployment in the Middle East.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has previously articulated a goal of bringing the publication into the 21st century. He has advocated for refocusing content away from what he described as distractions that negatively impact morale, aiming instead to adapt the outlet for a new generation of service members. The report also notes that as required by law and by the department’s own policies, i stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent. The report also notes that slavin spoke publicly about disagreements with Pentagon leaders in the “Sunday Morning” story. The report also notes that in a statement, Korte called the firings “a shame for the institution and service members, who swore to defend the Constitution and deserve the right to a free and independent press. The report also notes that especially the last six months covering the protracted conflict in Iran, i’m proud of the work my colleagues and I do at Stars and Stripes. The report also notes that the document included a memo of recommendations that Urban sent to Lederer on Aug. The report also notes that urban said he did not receive a response. The report also notes that in the spirit of looking to the future and striving together for a better Stripes, I believe we should be focused on three priorities.
