Kathmandu— Max D Lederer Jr, the publisher of Stars and Stripes, a newspaper serving the United States military, has resigned due to philosophical differences with the leadership of the Department of Defence regarding the publication’s editorial direction and mission; the resignation comes amid increased efforts by the Trump administration to exert greater control over the traditionally independent news outlet. The move follows accusations from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that Stars and Stripes was promoting “woke distractions” and criticism of its reporting on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, currently involved in ongoing military operations near Iran.

Growing Tensions with the Pentagon

Lederer announced his retirement to staff on Tuesday, explaining in a memo that his leadership philosophy and understanding of Stars and Stripes’ value were fundamentally at odds with the Defense Department's vision for the organization. The Trump administration had previously attempted to eliminate funding for the newspaper during its first term, though President Trump later pledged not to cut its budget. In January, however, the second-term Defense Department announced plans to align the paper more closely with government priorities.

Concerns Over Press Freedom

The resignation follows the firing of Jacqueline Smith, Stars and Stripes’ ombudsman—a role tasked with protecting the publication from political interference. Smith responded to her termination by stating that it was unsurprising, given the efforts to undermine the newspaper's independence. Hegseth has also overseen broader restrictions on press access to the Pentagon, including designating the press office as a classified area and implementing policies requiring escorts for journalists—rules that have faced legal challenges.

Reporting on War and Morale

Stars and Stripes’ reporting on issues such as poor conditions and declining morale aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for an extended period as part of ongoing military operations near Iran, drew criticism from the Trump administration. The publication was one of two to report on flagging morale and suicide attempts among service members on board the ship. Trump and his allies have accused critical journalists of being unpatriotic and seeking the failure of the United States.

‘Wokeness’ and DEI Policies

Hegseth has also targeted policies related to “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI), dismissing them as evidence of “wokeness” and arguing that they hinder military effectiveness. These efforts align with a broader push within the administration to restrict what it deems ideological distractions from core military functions.

The future direction of Stars and Stripes remains uncertain following Lederer’s departure, but concerns about maintaining its editorial independence persist as the Pentagon continues to assert greater control over the publication.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.