Don't Let Hegseth Turn Stars and Stripes Into Propaganda

Pete Hegseth is tightening the Pentagon’s grip on Stars and Stripes — the independent newspaper trusted by American troops for generations.

The Pentagon fired the paper’s ombudsman, installed an active-duty public affairs officer in senior leadership, and imposed new restrictions that threaten editorial independence. Now longtime publisher Max Lederer is retiring after saying his vision for Stars and Stripes fundamentally conflicts with Pentagon leadership’s direction. But officials have now discussed firing him before he leaves.

Stars and Stripes is supposed to serve American troops — not Pentagon political appointees. Servicemembers rely on it for independent reporting about deployments, military leadership, benefits, conditions, and failures that Pentagon public relations officials may have every reason to downplay.

If MAGA elites like Hegseth can control who runs the paper and how it operates, independent journalism can become Pentagon-approved propaganda.

Tell Congress: Protect Stars and Stripes from political interference and make its editorial independence the law.

Congress has a real chance to stop this. Lawmakers have advanced language that would help shield Stars and Stripes’ editorial operations from the military chain of command and outside political pressure.

Those protections must become law.

American troops deserve journalism that answers to the truth — not to Pete Hegseth.

Add your name before Pentagon interference becomes permanent and demand Congress keep political appointees out of the Stars and Stripes newsroom.

The petition to Congress reads:

“Protect the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes. Pass the FY2027 NDAA protections that keep Pentagon officials, political appointees, and the military chain of command out of its newsroom.”