The Pentagon announced Thursday that it is overhauling the independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes, directing it to eliminate what it calls “woke distractions” and concentrate on reporting for service members — a decision that has sparked debate over press freedom and military neutrality.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social-media post on X that the newspaper will be “returned to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters” and “refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale.” Under the upcoming changes, content will center on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, survivability and “ALL THINGS MILITARY,” with no reprints from the Associated Press.
.@DeptofWar Refocuses ‘Stars & Stripes’ On ‘Reporting For Our Warfighters’ https://t.co/sSvhXc6Ptd
— Kingsley Wilson (@PressSecDOW) January 15, 2026
Stars and Stripes has a long history of editorial independence, dating back to its origins during the Civil War and continuing today as a Pentagon-funded but independent news outlet for U.S. troops worldwide. That independence was solidified by Congress in the 1990s, with rules meant to protect the newspaper’s ability to report without interference. Critics say the new Pentagon directive undermines that mandate, and some question if the move to change its editorial content is even legal.
“I think it’s very important that Stars and Stripes maintains its editorial independence, which is the basis of its credibility,” said Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper’s ombudsman, via Associated Press. She noted the paper reports on matters important to service members and their families, not just weapons or operations.
STATEMENT:
The Department of War is returning Stars & Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters.
We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale,…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) January 15, 2026
Publisher Max Lederer has also voiced concern about the change, warning that shifting content toward Pentagon priorities could “destroy the value of the organization or significantly reduce its value,” according to NBC4 Washington.
Fox News reports that the debate over the overhaul comes after The Washington Post reported that job applicants for the newspaper were being asked how they would support President Donald Trump’s policy priorities — a question many see as a veiled loyalty test for journalists. Stars and Stripes leadership said it was unaware of the hiring question until contacted by the Post.
So this is illegal. Stars & Stripes is protected from Pentagon interference by law. I know. I was a Stripes reporter for three years. I’m available for comment. https://t.co/cwaAoTKAqx
— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) January 15, 2026
Opposition to the Pentagon’s move has come from across the political spectrum. Several Democratic senators, such as Mazie Hirono, have criticized the decision as an attack on editorial independence and press freedom, arguing that service members deserve unbiased news coverage.
Hirono posted, “First, the Pentagon kicks out reporters who reject gag rules. Now, Stars and Stripes applicants are asked how they’d advance Trump’s agenda. Access bans. Loyalty tests.” She then goes on to remind Americans the problem with vetting those who oppose the administration is “This is not ‘merit hiring.’ It’s systematic censorship of military journalism.”
Stars and Stripes is not the Pentagon’s newspaper. It has operated as an independent news organization for 150 years. This is a hostile takeover of an independent news organization. https://t.co/FwF0e7aGb5
— Maybe I’m Wrong (@MaybeI13019) January 16, 2026
Supporters within the Trump administration argue the overhaul will better serve active duty personnel by focusing on practical, military-centric reporting and removing what they view as irrelevant content.
For decades, Stars and Stripes has been a unique voice for U.S. service members, covering stories from overseas deployments to issues affecting daily life in the armed forces. Now those traditions are facing one of their most contested moments as Pentagon leadership seeks to reshape the paper’s mission in ways critics warn could erode trust and blur the line between independent reporting and official messaging.
