Stars & Stripes Editor Fired Amid Censorship Worries

Erik Slavin, the 21‑year‑old editor‑in‑chief of the US military newspaper Stars & Stripes, was dismissed by the Department of Defense (DoD) yesterday for "insubordination" after he warned the Pentagon that its increasing censorship could threaten journalistic independence.

In an interview with BBC and CBS last month, Slavin stated that, "in a hypothetical situation, censorship would be a red line" – a comment the Pentagon reportedly interpreted as undermining its authority. The dismissal of Slavin was accompanied by the firing of publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte, who also reportedly suffered "insubordination" charges.

Stars & Stripes has historically been editorially independent, managed under congressional mandate and Pentagon rules despite being partially funded by the DoD. The publication reaches roughly 1.4 million U.S. troops daily, many of whom rely on its print edition for news, especially in remote areas with limited internet.

The firing comes amid a broader conflict between the Trump administration and media outlets over press access to military events. In 2025, a judge ordered the administration to restore Associated Press coverage of presidential events, a decision that came after a dispute over the term "Gulf of America" at an event in Hawaii.

Mark Schoeff, president of the National Press Club, described the incident as "another brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military." His statement echoes concerns from other journalists who argue that such moves undermine press freedom and the ability of U.S. troops to stay informed.

Slavin, who has long championed the right of service members to access objective news, could not appeal his dismissal, leaving him uncertain about future coverage of sensitive topics, such as the ongoing deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf of Oman, where sailors have reported severe mental health challenges.