Judge denies request from ousted Stars and Stripes journalists to reverse Pentagon firings

<p>A federal judge denied a request from three ousted journalists of Stars and Stripes to reverse their firings by the Pentagon on September 7, 2026. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected a temporary restraining order filed by Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor in chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte, stating they did not meet the burden required to show entitlement to a preliminary injunction.</p><p>In a joint statement, the journalists expressed disappointment with the decision but indicated that it was not the final judgment. "We are reviewing the decision with our attorneys and considering our next steps," they stated. They emphasized their belief that the Pentagon should not have the authority to fire journalists for defending editorial independence.</p><p>They added, "This case is not primarily about the three of us. It is about whether the servicemembers who swear to defend the Constitution, and the military families who serve alongside them, can rely on a free and independent press."</p><p>Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell commented on the ruling, stating that the court applied established Supreme Court law regarding public employees and First Amendment protections. He noted that the interviews conducted by the journalists were arranged with supervisor involvement and that the journalists were speaking in their official capacities.</p><p>Parnell further stated, "Stars and Stripes is a Department of War publication funded to inform the military community. The Department has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure it remains focused on the force — warfighting, readiness, and the men and women who serve — rather than becoming a platform for airing employee grievances."</p><p>Last month, the Pentagon terminated the journalists over alleged insubordination following their unauthorized participation in a July segment of "CBS Sunday Morning" regarding the Pentagon's efforts to overhaul the publication. The lawsuit filed by the journalists claims retaliation and violation of their First Amendment rights.</p><p>According to the lawsuit, Pentagon leadership initially did not take immediate action regarding the journalists' statements in the interview, but their stance changed after Stars and Stripes published a report on alleged issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The lawsuit notes that Pentagon leadership demanded the firing of Slavin and Korte just one day after the report's publication.</p><p>The defendants listed in the lawsuit include the Pentagon, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Parnell, and his principal deputy assistant, Andrew Brey. In an interview, Slavin stated that the Pentagon never clearly articulated how he and Korte were deemed insubordinate, highlighting that he had previously given other media interviews without seeking authorization.</p><p>Slavin concluded, "This isn't about me. It's not about three jobs. It's about whether servicemembers and their families are gonna have access to independent news and information and news that they can trust."</p>