Max D. Lederer Jr., the longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military's independent newspaper, has resigned, citing fundamental disagreements with the leadership of the Department of Defense. In a memo to staff, Lederer stated that his 'philosophy of leadership' and understanding of the publication's mission 'differ in fundamental ways' from the direction the Pentagon wants to take the organization.
The resignation comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused the paper of promoting 'woke distractions' and the Trump administration criticized its reporting on poor conditions and declining morale aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which is involved in the war against Iran. Founded in 1861, Stars and Stripes has been a cornerstone of U.S. military culture for over 160 years, priding itself on editorial independence despite receiving significant government funding.
Critics argue that threats to the outlet have intensified in recent years. During Trump's first term, the Pentagon attempted to eliminate the paper's funding, though Trump later pledged not to cut its budget. However, in January, the Defense Department announced plans to align the paper more closely with government priorities, with spokesperson Sean Parnell framing the move as 'returning Stars and Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters.'
The Pentagon also fired Jacqueline Smith, the paper's ombudsman, whose role was to protect its reporting from political interference. Smith responded in a column, saying, 'No one should be surprised that they're kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes' editorial independence.' Hegseth has overseen broader restrictions on journalists' access to the Pentagon, including a June ban on reporters from the press office, which was abruptly designated a classified area.
A federal judge later paused a policy requiring journalists to have escorts in the Pentagon, and other restrictive rules were struck down in court. Hegseth has also targeted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, labeling them as 'wokeness' that undermines military effectiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. is embroiled in an unpopular war against Iran, launched with Israel on February 28, which has strained military resources and munitions supplies.
Stars and Stripes was one of two military publications to report on suicide attempts and low morale among service members on the USS Lincoln, which broke the Navy record for the longest deployment without a port call. Trump and his allies have lashed out at critical war coverage, suggesting that journalists highlighting military troubles are traitors who want the country to fail. The resignation underscores growing tensions between the independent press and the current administration's efforts to exert control.
Source: www.aljazeera.com