Publisher of US military newspaper resigns over differences with government

What the report says

Max D Lederer Jr, the longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes, has resigned, saying in a memo to staff that his view of the newspaper’s mission no longer matched the direction of the US Defense Department’s leadership. Al Jazeera reported that the departure comes amid tension between the military-focused publication and the Trump administration over attempts to increase government influence over its editorial direction.

According to the report, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized Stars and Stripes as promoting “woke distractions,” while Pentagon officials have argued the paper should be brought closer to the government’s priorities. The outlet, founded in 1861, has long received substantial public funding but has also sought to preserve editorial independence, including through the role of an ombudsman meant to guard against political interference.

The article adds that the dispute is part of a wider conflict between the administration and journalists covering the Pentagon. It cites earlier efforts to limit press access, court challenges to new rules for reporters, and broader criticism from officials of coverage seen as undermining military morale. Stars and Stripes has recently reported on conditions and morale aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which Al Jazeera said was involved in the war on Iran.

The resignation matters because Stars and Stripes is a longstanding military news source for service members, and questions over its independence raise broader concerns about press freedom and oversight inside the Defense Department.