Permanent record
Pentagon dismissed Stars and Stripes leaders after public objections to editorial interference
- Event date
- Category
- Press freedom
- Posture:
- Employment actions confirmed — stated reason and objections preserved
The Pentagon dismissed editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte. Slavin and Korte said they were accused of insubordination after publicly defending the newspaper's editorial independence; Pentagon leadership had described a plan to reshape coverage around its preferred military themes. The entry records the dismissals, the stated insubordination rationale and the journalists' account; it does not label the action unlawful without a court ruling.
- Conduct
- Press hostility
Dated sources
- — Associated Press (Independent reporting with statements from affected staff and Pentagon appointee)
Correction status
No substantive correction recorded for this version.
Canonical citation
Pentagon dismissed Stars and Stripes leaders after public objections to editorial interference. Donaldtrumpler.com. https://donaldtrumpler.com/records/2026-08-21-stars-and-stripes-dismissals/
Last verified: