The Pentagon fired Stars & Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, the newspaper's publisher, and a reporter after they opposed potential military censorship [1].
The dismissals raise concerns regarding the independence of military journalism and the potential for the Department of Defense to suppress reporting that challenges leadership.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) condemned the actions during an appearance on MSNBC. Gallego said the firings are intended to intimidate the newspaper and suppress independent reporting. He said the prospect of independent journalism "scares Hegseth and the Department of Defense" [1].
The firings took place in the week prior to April 23, 2024 [1]. This timing followed public statements from the newspaper's leadership regarding a hypothetical censorship plan.
Slavin said he was fired for speaking out about potential censorship of the outlet's reporting [3]. The unnamed publisher of Stars & Stripes also said the Pentagon took action against the newspaper after an interview regarding hypothetical censorship [3].
Stars & Stripes operates out of Washington, D.C., and serves as a primary news source for U.S. military members. The dismissals involve senior leadership at the publication and one reporter [1].
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hegseth and the Department of Defense have not provided a public response to the specific allegations of censorship-related retaliation [1].
“"It scares Hegseth and the Department of Defense."”
The conflict highlights a tension between national security confidentiality and the First Amendment rights of journalists working within military-funded structures. Because Stars & Stripes is funded by the Department of Defense but maintains an editorial board, these firings suggest a narrowing of the boundary between government oversight and editorial independence.
