WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has removed three senior officials at the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes after accusing them of “mutiny,” according to reports.
The officials include publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Eric Slavin and Middle East correspondent Laura Korte.
The dismissals come amid a wider dispute over the Pentagon’s plans to reorganize the long-running military newspaper and concerns about its editorial independence.
CBS Interview Led to Disciplinary Action
According to Fox News, Slavin and Korte took part in a segment of CBS Sunday Morning last month without Pentagon approval.
The program discussed the Pentagon’s efforts to restructure Stars and Stripes.
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Lederer also reportedly refused to follow instructions from Pentagon leadership regarding the removal of certain journalists.
Slavin told Fox News that his termination notice cited comments he made during a CBS interview.
He said he had described censorship of news published for US military personnel as a “red line.”
Editor Defends Editorial Independence
Slavin said he continued to support the principle that Stars and Stripes should remain editorially independent.
He argued that the newspaper’s independence is protected by law and Pentagon policies.
Slavin became editor-in-chief in September 2025. He first joined Stars and Stripes as a correspondent in Japan in 2005 and later worked as a field reporter with US forces in Iraq.
He has also covered conflicts and major events in several parts of the world.
Middle East Correspondent Also Fired
Korte, who joined the newspaper in 2024, said on X that the Defense Department told her she was being dismissed over her comments to a CBS reporter.
She said she had explained that she worked for Stars and Stripes rather than the Pentagon, an administration or an individual policymaker.
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Korte said she was proud of reporting the experiences of US service members and their families.
She also highlighted the newspaper’s coverage of the conflict involving Iran over the previous six months.
Publisher Had Planned to Retire
Lederer, a former US military service member, joined Stars and Stripes in 1992 and served as its publisher for 19 years.
He had already told employees that he planned to retire at the end of September.
Lederer said disagreements with Pentagon leadership over the newspaper’s future and direction contributed to the latest decision.
Employees Given Five Days to Appeal
The three dismissed employees have been given five days to appeal the decisions.
The Pentagon did not provide a detailed public response when asked about the dismissals.
Instead, Defense Department officials referred to an open letter from Stars and Stripes Deputy Publisher for Military Affairs Captain William Urban.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell also shared part of the letter on X.
Pentagon Plans Major Newspaper Restructuring
The Pentagon began planning a major restructuring of Stars and Stripes earlier in 2026.
Parnell said in January that the Defense Department wanted to return the newspaper to what it described as its original mission of reporting for military personnel.
The department also said it wanted to modernize the newspaper and place greater emphasis on military subjects.
These areas include combat operations, weapons systems, physical fitness, combat readiness and survival.
The Pentagon has argued that the changes would improve the newspaper’s reach and relevance while maintaining professional journalistic standards and editorial credibility.
Dispute Raises Questions Over Press Freedom
The dismissals have intensified the debate over editorial independence at Stars and Stripes.
The newspaper has historically provided independent reporting for US military personnel and their families.
The latest dispute now puts its relationship with Pentagon leadership under renewed scrutiny, particularly as the Defense Department seeks to reshape the newspaper’s operations and content.
