The editor of a US military newspaper has voiced concerns about press censorship after being dismissed from their post, according to the BBC. The firing comes amid a broader shake-up at the publication, which has drawn criticism from several major news outlets.
BBC reports that the editor, who was removed from Stars and Stripes, believes the decision reflects an effort to silence independent reporting within the military press. The outlet’s leadership was also removed by the Pentagon, with CNN noting the firings followed a pressure campaign linked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Washington Post adds that the dismissed leaders had previously spoken out against what they described as interference from the Department of Defense. The New York Times also covered the story, framing the moves as the Trump administration removing top journalists at a military news outlet.
Stars and Stripes, a long-running publication serving US troops and their families, has historically operated with editorial independence. The Pentagon’s decision to remove its top editors marks an unusual intervention in the paper’s operations. In an open letter, the military deputy to the publisher addressed stakeholders, though details of that statement were not fully available in the material reviewed.
The firings raise questions about the future of editorial autonomy at military-funded media. Watch for further statements from the Pentagon or Stars and Stripes leadership on how the publication will be managed going forward.
