Erik Slavin, a journalist with 21 years at the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes, believes his recent dismissal stemmed from comments he made about censorship. Slavin and reporter Lara Korte were informed they were fired for insubordination, a reason they believe is linked to an interview they gave to CBS's "Sunday Morning" program last month.
Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer was also fired. Lederer had announced his retirement earlier in the week, stating his vision for the publication differed significantly from the Pentagon's plans. Slavin stated he has not received an official explanation for his dismissal and is unable to appeal the decision.
He noted that the firings occurred in a climate where the Pentagon has not held a press conference since May and where journalists have resisted attempts to influence their reporting. Slavin expressed concern that his dismissal, and that of Korte, could signal a broader trend of interference with the newspaper's editorial independence. Korte wrote on X that the situation is a disservice to service members who deserve a free and independent press.
The National Press Club president, Mark Schoeff Jr., called Slavin's firing "another brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military and should be immediately reversed." The newspaper, which is partially funded by the Pentagon but operates under a congressional mandate and Department of Defense rules ensuring editorial independence, reaches an average of 1.4 million people daily, primarily online. Print editions are still produced for military personnel in areas with limited internet access.
This situation echoes past tensions between the military and the press. In October, major news outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and the BBC rejected a new Department of Defense policy that would have barred journalists from entering DoD facilities unless they reported only officially authorized information. The Trump administration at the time argued these changes were necessary for national security. Previously, a U.S. judge in April 2025 ordered the administration to restore the Associated Press's access to presidential events after a dispute over the term "Gulf of America." A few months earlier, the White House had taken control of the press pool that traditionally covers the U.S. presidency.