Kathmandu— The Pentagon on Friday terminated the employment of Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, along with its publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte, following public statements opposing any attempts by the Department of Defense to control the traditionally independent military news outlet. The dismissals occurred as the Trump administration continues a pattern of increasingly assertive engagement—and conflict—with the media, including restricting access for reporters covering the Pentagon. Slavin stated he was fired for objecting to hypothetical censorship in an interview, while Lederer cited fundamental disagreements with the Defense Department’s vision for the publication. Korte confirmed her dismissal via social media, emphasizing that Stars and Stripes should not be controlled by the Pentagon or any policymaker.

Growing Tensions at Stars and Stripes

The recent firings follow a series of events signaling increased scrutiny of Stars and Stripes by the Pentagon. Just weeks ago, a new deputy publisher—an active duty Navy Captain, William Urban—was installed without the prior knowledge of longtime publisher Lederer. Three Democratic senators had questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding this appointment just days before the leadership changes were announced. Lederer, who had been with Stars and Stripes for three decades and as publisher since 2007, recently announced his retirement, citing a divergence in philosophies between himself and Pentagon leadership.

Pentagon Seeks to Refocus Military News

Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s spokesman, previously outlined the administration's vision for Stars and Stripes in a January post on X, stating that the publication would focus exclusively on topics related to warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, and military lethality. This signaled an intention to eliminate what the Pentagon considered “woke distractions” and repurposed content from other sources. The move aligns with a broader effort by the administration to exert editorial control over media outlets it perceives as critical or misaligned with its objectives.

Concerns Over Independent Reporting

The dismissal of Slavin, Lederer, and Korte has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates. Mark Schoeff Jr., President of the National Press Club, denounced the firings as “another brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military” and called for their immediate reversal. The incident raises concerns about the future of independent journalism within the Department of Defense and its potential impact on service members who rely on unbiased reporting. Slavin emphasized his commitment to upholding Stars and Stripes’ legal requirement for editorial independence.

New Leadership Plans Digital Expansion

Navy Captain William Urban, now serving as military deputy to the publisher, stated that he is committed to editorially independent journalism focused on serving service members and their families. He acknowledged a need to improve the publication's digital presence, noting that many service members are “digital natives.” While lacking formal journalism experience, Urban highlighted his two decades in public affairs and communications as relevant preparation for leading Stars and Stripes.

It remains unclear what role Captain Urban will assume as head publisher, but he indicated a continued focus on providing the best possible journalistic product to the military community. The future of editorial independence at Stars and Stripes remains uncertain following these recent leadership changes.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.