The long-standing publisher of Stars and Stripes has stepped down, concluding a multi-decade career at the military newspaper amid efforts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon to control editorial coverage and eliminate what officials term "woke distractions." Max D. Lederer Jr., only the second full-time civilian to hold the position, confirmed his departure in a staff memo issued Tuesday and during an interview with Stars and Stripes. His retirement takes effect at the end of September.
In the memo, seen by The , he 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." This decision follows the removal four months prior of Jacqueline Smith, the publication's ombudsman tasked with preserving editorial autonomy. Although partially financed by the Defense Department, the news organization historically maintains independence from military leadership. In a column, Smith wrote, "No one should be surprised that they’re kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence." The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Stars and Stripes recently led reporting regarding conditions and mental health concerns among sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln during an extended deployment — issues that President Donald Trump has downplayed. The publisher’s departure comes seven months after the Pentagon announced via a social media post that it intended to overhaul the newspaper to align with department messaging. Sean Parnell, a spokesman for the secretary, posted on X in January that the department "is returning Stars and Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters." He stated the department would "refocus its content away from woke distractions." "Stars and Stripes will be custom tailored to our warfighters," Parnell wrote.
"It will focus on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability and ALL THINGS MILITARY. No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more reprints." These developments fit into broader efforts by Hegseth to regulate media coverage of the department. Last year, officials attempted to place restrictions on journalists working inside the Pentagon, leading most news organizations to surrender their credentials and walk out.
This summer, the Pentagon declared its press space classified, introducing a policy requiring reporters to be escorted while on the grounds. That measure is being challenged in court. In mid-July, a panel on the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled the policy could remain, overturning a lower court decision. In an April column titled "The Pentagon is trying to silence me," Smith expressed concern over mounting media restrictions.
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