The Pentagon has dismissed the ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, the independent military newspaper, in a move that critics say threatens editorial freedom. Jacqueline Smith, who served as the paper’s watchdog, announced her firing in a final op-ed on Thursday, stating that she was given no reason for the decision.
Smith wrote that she received notice her last day would be April 28, with a mandatory five-day notice period. Pentagon officials told her the action was “not grievable.” She had held the role since 2023 and was responsible for reporting annually to Congress on threats to the paper’s independence.
The ombudsman position was created by Congress in 1991 after military officials attempted to suppress coverage of the Iran-Contra affair. Smith had recently expressed concerns to the House and Senate Armed Services committees about Pentagon efforts to control Stars and Stripes, including a directive banning commercial news content from its editions.
In an interview with CNN, Smith criticised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s embrace of Christianity at the Pentagon, saying “the Bible has no place in the running of the Pentagon.” She also warned that changes such as removing the requirement for a civilian publisher could undermine editorial independence.
The Pentagon has been contacted for comment. Stars and Stripes is funded by the Department of Defense but is mandated to maintain editorial independence. Recent months have seen a drastic overhaul, with a spokesperson saying the paper should be “refocused” away from “woke distractions.”
