Longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes to retire, citing differences with Pentagon leadership

In practice, the longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes has confirmed his retirement, ending a decades-long career with the military newspaper as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Pentagon moves to exert editorial control and eliminate what it asserts are "woke distractions."

What happened

Max D. As well as in an interview with Stars and Stripes, lederer Jr. Confirmed his retirement, effective at the end of September, in a memo to staff on Tuesday. In the memo, seen by The Associated Press, Lederer, the second full-time civilian in the position, wrote that it had "become clear that my philosophy of leadership, and my understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes, differ in fundamental ways from the direction the leadership of the Department of Defense has for the organization."

Meanwhile, the announcement comes less than four months after the Pentagon fired Jacqueline Smith, ombudsman for the newspaper, whose job was to safeguard editorial independence. The news outlet is partly funded by the Defense Department, but has a legacy of independence from military and administration leadership. "No one should be surprised that they're kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes' editorial independence, " Smith wrote in a column.

Stars and Stripes has lately been at the forefront of some of the reporting on conditions for sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln and worries for their mental health during the aircraft carrier's long deployment – reservations that President Donald Trump has downplayed.

The bottom line

In short, longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes to retire, citing differences with Pentagon is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.