The Pentagon has issued separation notices to the publisher, editor-in-chief, and a reporter of Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military news outlet, citing insubordination as the reason for their dismissals.
Publisher Max Lederer, Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte were each given five days to appeal the decisions, according to people familiar with the matter. The firings were delivered on Friday and stem from their participation in a CBS Sunday Morning segment aired in July, which discussed Pentagon efforts to overhaul the publication.
Slavin and Korte cited the CBS interview as the basis for their dismissals. In a statement, Slavin said he was fired for stating in the interview that censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line. He emphasized his commitment to Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence, as required by law and Pentagon policy. Korte similarly framed her dismissal as a violation of journalistic integrity, stating on social media that she was fired for asserting that she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon or any administration.
Lederer, who had served as publisher for 19 years, announced his retirement effective September 30 in a note to staff earlier this week. He cited "fundamental differences" with the Trump administration over the direction of the publication. Pentagon officials had discussed dismissing Lederer before his scheduled retirement, according to CBS News reporting.
The Pentagon’s public affairs office declined to comment when contacted by CBS News. A Defense Department spokesman did not respond to requests for clarification.
Background and Context
Stars and Stripes has operated as an editorially independent military news outlet since its founding, funded in part by U.S. taxpayers. The publication has a longstanding reputation for providing critical information to service members and their families, including recent reporting on mental health challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The firings occur amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and the press. The administration has curtailed Pentagon press access, engaged in disputes with major news organizations, and used regulatory tools to target broadcast networks. Slavin’s interview with CBS Sunday Morning highlighted disagreements with Pentagon leadership over editorial control and censorship concerns.
Reactions and Statements
Slavin reiterated his stance on editorial independence in statements to multiple outlets, calling the dismissal notice a charge of insubordination for defending the paper’s autonomy. Korte framed her firing as a disservice to service members, who she said deserve access to an independent press. Lederer’s retirement announcement did not directly address the dismissal but underscored his philosophical differences with the Pentagon’s leadership.
The Pentagon has not provided further details on the alleged insubordination beyond referencing the CBS interview. The separation notices mark a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over the future of Stars and Stripes and its editorial policies.