The Department of Defense said Thursday it will reorganize Stars and Stripes and stop circulating wire-service reporting such as The Associated Press. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the overhaul will "bring the newspaper into the 21st century" and refocus coverage on warfighting, weapons systems and other topics aimed at service members. The paper, which dates to the Civil War, is partially funded by the Pentagon but has historically asserted editorial independence under a congressional mandate tied to the First Amendment. The announcement follows a Washington Post report that applicants were asked how they would support President Trump’s policies.
Pentagon Announces Overhaul of Stars and Stripes, Will Stop Reprinting AP Wire Reports
The Department of Defense announced on Thursday a planned overhaul of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, including a decision to stop circulating reporting from wire services such as The Associated Press. Pentagon officials say the move will refocus the publication on topics they consider most relevant to service members.
In a social media post, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell described the changes as an effort to "bring the newspaper into the 21st century." Parnell wrote:
"The Department of War is returning Stars & Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters. 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."
Stars and Stripes traces its roots to the Civil War era. The publication receives partial funding from the Pentagon and its staff are Defense Department employees. It operates within the Defense Media Activity but has long maintained that it enjoys editorial independence from senior Defense leadership and — according to the paper — is "congressionally mandated to be governed by First Amendment principles."
What Will Change
According to the Pentagon statement, the "modernized" edition will concentrate on subjects such as warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality and survivability — described by the spokesperson as "ALL THINGS MILITARY." The announcement did not provide a detailed timetable or explain how the changes will affect day-to-day newsroom operations.
Context and Reaction
The announcement followed a Washington Post report that said new applicants for positions at Stars and Stripes were being asked how they would support President Donald Trump’s policies. The Pentagon statement emphasized the outlet's "proud legacy" and said the department is committed to ensuring the publication continues to reflect that legacy.
Stars and Stripes did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Observers and journalism advocates may closely watch whether the changes preserve the newsroom's editorial autonomy and its ability to serve military audiences with independent reporting.
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