More Supporting Independence for Stars and Stripes Are Fired

The Defense Department broadened its offensive against the military's storied newspaper on Friday, dismissing the editor in chief and a reporter for Stars and Stripes after removing Publisher Max Lederer. Erik Slavin said he, along with reporter Lara Korte, were pushed out over their appearance on CBS' Sunday Morning in which Slavin warned that any move to censor the outlet would be a "red line" and Korte stressed that she serves the military community, not any administration, the Washington Post reports. Both said they were told they're being fired for insubordination, per CBS News. Lederer had announced his retirement this week, telling staff he had disagreed with decisions by top Pentagon officials.

The Pentagon confirmed the terminations and said the trio has five days to appeal but offered no further explanation. In April, officials also removed the paper's ombudsman, a position created by Congress to protect its editorial autonomy. Pentagon officials have called the publication "woke." Slavin told the Post, "Stars and Stripes should remain independent for service members." In the CBS interview, Korte said: "I'm working for Stars and Stripes. Not for the Pentagon, not for any administration, not for any policymaker. I'm here to cover the military community."