Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Pentagon Takes Control of Stars and Stripes
The Pentagon has decided to take control of Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has been independent since the 1990s.
This means the Pentagon will now decide what the newspaper writes about.
They want the newspaper to focus more on military topics like weapons and fitness and less on other news.
Many people, including press freedom groups, are worried about this change because they think it will hurt the newspaper's ability to report fairly.
The staff of Stars and Stripes is also worried about their jobs and the future of the newspaper.
The Pentagon is taking control of Stars and Stripes, ending its editorial independence.
The newspaper will now focus on military topics like warfighting and weapons systems.
Press freedom groups are criticizing the move, citing concerns about censorship.
Staff members are worried about job security and the future of independent reporting.
Stars and Stripes has been independent since a congressional mandate in the 1990s.
- Who
- The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon)
- What
- Taking control of Stars and Stripes, ending its editorial independence
- When
- Recently announced
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To refocus content away from 'woke distractions' and towards military-focused topics
- Newspaper
- Stars and Stripes
- Control Change
- Pentagon
- Focus Shift
- Warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability
- Editorial Independence
- Ended
- Criticism
- Press freedom groups
- Staff Concerns
- Job security and editorial independence
- Historical Context
- First published during the Civil War
- Congressional Mandate
- Editorial independence since the 1990s