Pentagon officials have discussed firing Max Lederer, the long-serving publisher of Stars and Stripes, ahead of his scheduled retirement next month, according to CBS News citing anonymous sources. Lederer has led the taxpayer-funded military publication for 19 years and previously announced his departure, stating fundamental disagreements with the Trump administration’s direction for the news organization.
The potential dismissal comes after Stars and Stripes published reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a carrier on extended deployment in the Middle East. The outlet’s reporting on the vessel was released the same day as similar coverage in Navy Times. Officials have not clarified whether the Lincoln coverage directly prompted the reported discussions about Lederer’s removal.
Tensions between Stars and Stripes and the Pentagon have escalated on multiple fronts. The publication’s editor, Erik Slavin, indicated friction with military leadership last month when he characterized editorial independence from the Pentagon as a critical issue for the outlet, which receives approximately 65 percent of its funding from the Defense Department. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced earlier this year that the administration intended to modernize Stars and Stripes’ operations, refocus content away from what officials characterized as “woke distractions,” and prioritize military-focused reporting while discontinuing use of wire services including Reuters and the Associated Press.
The publication has faced organizational changes under the current administration. An ombudsman for Stars and Stripes was terminated in January after writing a story critical of content restrictions and subsequently sued the Pentagon, alleging retaliatory termination. The Pentagon’s approach to press relations has included removing mainstream media outlets from workspace access while expanding access for other outlets, contributing to broader tensions between the Defense Department and portions of the press corps covering military affairs.
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