Stars and Stripes Publisher Retires After 30 Years, Saying His View of the Paper's Mission Differs 'Fundamentally' From the Pentagon's

Max D. Lederer Jr., publisher of Stars and Stripes since 2007, announced his retirement on Tuesday, effective September 30, ending a three-decade career at the news organization amid Pentagon efforts to expand oversight of its operations and content. Lederer said he stepped down because his philosophy of leadership and "understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes" differed in "fundamental ways" from the Defense Department's plans. He said he opposed the March modernization plan's move of all print products to digital and felt out of sync with "the pace and the direction" the Pentagon was setting.

Stars and Stripes operates inside the Defense Department but is meant to report independently of the military chain of command. The departure follows the April firing of the publication's ombudsman, a role Congress created to safeguard that independence.

The Pentagon's overhaul requires content consistent with "good order and discipline," limits wire service use and bars comics and syndicated features; spokesman Sean Parnell said in January the department intended to refocus the paper away from "woke distractions." Lederer said he does not know whether the Pentagon will keep him on until September 30.