PNN – The Pentagon fired editorial staff members from one of its publications for opposing censorship.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) dismissed the senior editor and a reporter from the Stars and Stripes newspaper.
Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief of this U.S. military newspaper, stated that he was fired for insubordination; Reuters learned that the Pentagon had sent the termination order to the newspaper’s management, instructing them that he must leave.
The dismissals followed interviews these individuals gave to CBS News, in which they defended the newspaper’s editorial independence, stating that censorship was a “red line” for the publication.
Slavin added: According to this notice, [I was dismissed] because of my interview with CBS, in which I stated that the alleged and fabricated censorship of news is a red line for the editorial staff.
Furthermore, the termination email revealed that William Gallo, the head of the newspaper’s Europe and Middle East bureau, acknowledged that—in addition to Slavin—journalist Max Lederer and another reporter had also been dismissed. Lederer had been scheduled to retire in September.
Lara Court, the dismissed journalist, also stated that he was fired because he said in an interview with CBS that he worked for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon.
Stars and Stripes, which has been in continuous publication since World War II and reports on the U.S. military worldwide, receives its funding from the U.S. Department of Defense but has historically, maintained editorial independence. However, the Pentagon, under the leadership of Pete Hegseth, is seeking greater control over the newspaper.
Recently, Pete Hegseth—Trump’s Secretary of Defense—announced the formation of a joint task force with the U.S. Department of Justice to identify and prosecute individuals who leak Pentagon information to the media.
This move has drawn widespread criticism regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict the free flow of information and increase pressure on the media.
Critics view this action as part of the Trump administration’s policy to foster an atmosphere of intimidation within the Pentagon and silence dissenting voices.
According to them, the establishment of this task force could further curtail media freedom and public oversight of military institutions.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense had converted its press office into a secure, classified area and barred journalists from accessing it.
A few months ago, the Pentagon also announced that journalists must acknowledge that asking U.S. Department of Defense employees to disclose classified information—or certain types of unclassified information—could be viewed as a security risk and result in the revocation of their Pentagon press credentials.
Additionally, the Department of Defense restricted media access within the Pentagon, compelled certain media outlets to vacate their offices in the building, and reduced the number of press briefings.