Press freedom organisations have issued a sharp condemnation after the Pentagon moved to seize editorial control of Stars and Stripes, the historic daily newspaper for US service members that has operated since the American Civil War.
Policy Shift Ends Decades of Independence
The Trump administration announced the significant policy change on Thursday, 24 April 1967, stating the outlet would cease covering what it termed "woke distractions". Instead, it would modernise to serve a new generation. A final rule published in the federal register formally struck down previous policies that mandated a civilian editor and an independent ombudsman—a highly qualified journalist from outside the Department of Defense.
Sean Parnell, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, elaborated on the social media platform X. He stated the Department of War—using the government's informal new nickname for the Pentagon—was returning the paper to its "original mission: reporting for our warfighters". He said content would now be "custom tailored" to focus on warfighting, weapons systems, and military matters, with no more "repurposed DC gossip columns" or Associated Press reprints.
Immediate Backlash from Free Press Advocates
The action was immediately criticised as the latest attempt by the Pentagon to stifle criticism and control its narrative. Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation program director for PEN America, argued that American troops overseas deserve credible, First Amendment-guaranteed news. "Instead, the Pentagon is trying to turn this independent newsroom into a mouthpiece for the administration’s political messaging," he stated.
Erik Slavin, the newspaper’s editor in chief, sent a defiant message to staff, asserting that those who risk their lives defending the Constitution have earned the right to its press freedoms. "We will not compromise on serving them with accurate and balanced coverage," he wrote.
This move follows the en masse resignation of the Pentagon press corps in December over restrictive new policies. That group was replaced by a hand-picked collection of right-wing bloggers perceived as more compliant.
A Legacy of Independent Military Journalism Under Threat
Founded in 1861 by Union troops, Stars and Stripes has a storied history of independent reporting for service members. Its circulation of 1.2 million boosted morale during World War II, and it was the first to publish the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph in 1945. A 2015 investigation by its reporter even led to the downfall of NBC anchor Brian Williams for false claims.
Although formally part of Pentagon media operations, it has long been protected by a congressional mandate ensuring a "free flow of news and information... without news management or censorship". This latest action is seen as a direct violation of that principle.
The push coincides with a broader anti-media stance from the Trump administration, including lawsuits against critical outlets, an FBI raid on a Washington Post reporter's home, and a reported dramatic increase in violence against journalists in the US.
