Pentagon Terminates Stars and Stripes Ombudsman Amid Editorial Independence Dispute

Pentagon dismissed Jacqueline Smith, the congressional ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, effective April 28, labeling the action “not grievable.”

The Independent

Congress created the ombudsman in 1991 after attempts to suppress Iran-Contra reporting, requiring annual reports to the Armed Services committees to safeguard Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence.

The Independent

Jacqueline Smith (ombudsman), Sean Parnell (Pentagon spokesperson), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Tim Richardson (PEN America) and PEN America.

The Hill

Dec 2023 – Smith appointed; Jan 15 – Parnell announces “refocus” plan; Mar 9 – Feinberg bans external news and cartoons; Apr 15 – Raskin-led congressional letter; mid-April – Smith receives April 28 termination notice; firing follows six days later.

The Hill

The firing raises questions about the Pentagon’s ability to influence news for service members, potentially eroding the legal guarantee of independent military journalism and broader press-freedom standards.

The Hill

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the department will “refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve service members.” Pentagon officials said the termination “is not grievable.” The Pentagon declined comment; Smith’s reports of “great alarm” were sent to the House and Senate Armed Services committees.

The Hill

Smith described the cartoon ban as a “Pete Hegseth” effort and argued that the Pentagon should not prioritize a single religious perspective, given the diverse faiths of service members. Tim Richardson warned that the firing threatens the newspaper’s independence and called on Congress to uphold its statutory protections. Rep. Raskin labeled the move a “great alarm” about political interference.

The Hill

Sources differ on the firing date: Smith’s notice cites an April 28 end date, while the congressional letter suggests she was dismissed six days after the April 15 letter. No official rationale for the termination has been provided, and the Pentagon has offered no comment beyond the “not grievable” statement.

The Independent

• “Apparently the Pentagon also doesn’t want you to hear from me anymore about threats to the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes. They fired me,” — Jacqueline Smith, former ombudsman

The Independent

• “No one should be surprised that they’re kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence,” — Jacqueline Smith, former ombudsman

The Independent

• “I think that Hegseth and company are trying to get around Congress by not eliminating the position, just getting rid of the outspoken present ombudsman,” — Jacqueline Smith, former ombudsman

The Hill

• “has been fired for doing exactly what Congress intended Stars and Stripes’ ombudsman to do — protecting the independence the publication has held for decades,” — Tim Richardson, PEN America

The Hill

Congress is expected to hold hearings on the dismissal and consider legislation to reinforce the ombudsman’s statutory protections; PEN America urges immediate action while the Pentagon continues legal appeals over prior reporter restrictions.

The Hill