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Pentagon dismisses leadership of military newspaper Stars and Stripes

The Pentagon has dismissed the leadership of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes for insubordination, according to Reuters.

22 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Pentagon dismisses leadership of military newspaper Stars and Stripes — Archive photoPhoto: Floris M. Oosterveld · Flickr · BY

The Pentagon has dismissed the editor-in-chief, the publisher, and a reporter of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. According to Reuters, the dismissal letters are addressed to editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte.

The action was taken based on allegations of insubordination, or disobedience to a superior. This was mentioned in the dismissal letter.

The reason for the dismissal appears to be a segment that CBS News dedicated to Stars and Stripes early last month. Erik Slavin, the dismissed editor-in-chief, cited this segment as a key factor in the conflict.

In his comments on the dismissal, Slavin stated that a 'red line' has been crossed, although details regarding this aspect were not further elaborated.

This news follows a period in which the role of military publications within the Pentagon is increasingly under scrutiny, particularly regarding their independence and reporting content.

The Pentagon has not yet provided further clarification on the specific details of the allegations, nor about the implications of the dismissal for the future of the newspaper.

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