Pentagon Tightens Control Over Stars and Stripes Amid “Woke” Concerns

The Defense Department is increasing its oversight of Stars and Stripes, the independent military newspaper, following accusations from a top spokesperson that the publication is focusing on “woke distractions.” These changes, announced in a memo dated March 9, 2026, and first reported by Stars and Stripes on Friday, represent the latest effort by the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to limit journalistic coverage of the agency.

Changes to Editorial Policy

While the memo states that Stars and Stripes will continue to “operate with editorial independence,” it mandates the immediate implementation of recent Defense Department policies and restricts the publication of certain content. Crucially, the memo stipulates that all content “must be consistent with good order and discipline,” a phrase rooted in military justice.

Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, expressed concern to NPR on Saturday regarding the potential legal ramifications for staff reporters who are also members of the U.S. Military. “If they were to complete a story that the Defense Department did not like, and did not find ‘consistent with good order and discipline,’ would they be in legal jeopardy?” Slavin questioned. “We don’t know the answer to that.”

Pentagon’s Rationale

The Pentagon asserts that these changes are intended to ensure the newspaper remains “by the warfighter and for the warfighter.” Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, stated in a January 15, 2026, post on X (formerly Twitter), “We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.” NPR reports that Parnell, in an emailed statement, reiterated the Defense Department’s aim to return Stars and Stripes to its original mission as an independent news source for service members stationed overseas.

Concerns Over Transparency and Independence

Slavin reported that the Defense Department did not directly communicate the memo to Stars and Stripes; his staff discovered it on a Defense Department website three days after its issuance. KUOW notes that the memo indicated a copy would be sent to Stars and Stripes Publisher Max Lederer, but Lederer did not receive it.

Stars and Stripes has a long history of independent reporting, dating back to the Civil War and continuing uninterrupted since World War II. By Congressional mandate, the newspaper has operated independently since the 1990s. While, recent actions by the Pentagon, including the withdrawal of a federal regulation underpinning this mandate in January, have raised concerns about its future. The new memo also directs the newspaper’s ombudsman to relay information intended for Congress to the Department of Defense first, rather than directly to legislators.

Broader Trends of Control

These actions align with a broader pattern of the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Hegseth seeking greater control over media entities. In September, Hegseth implemented a policy requiring media outlets to obtain formal authorization before gathering information, leading most established news organizations, including NPR, to forfeit their press passes. Middle Tennessee State University’s Free Speech Center highlights this trend.

Press freedom advocacy organizations, such as PEN America, have criticized the Pentagon’s memo, stating that service members and their families rely on Stars and Stripes for independent reporting, not content shaped by the officials the paper is meant to scrutinize.

Impact on Coverage

The new policies are expected to significantly curtail Stars and Stripes’ newsgathering capabilities. The memo prohibits the publication of most stories from wire services like the Associated Press and Reuters, limiting coverage of events in war zones, such as the new conflict in Iran, and even popular events like March Madness. The memo also explicitly bans comic strips.

Slavin stated that the newspaper will need to find alternative sources of information to compensate for the loss of wire service content.