Pentagon Names Christian Devine Interim Publisher of Stars and Stripes

The Pentagon has secured an interim publisher for Stars and Stripes, handing the reins of the historic military newspaper to Christian Devine. He currently serves as the executive director of the Pentagon's public affairs office. This move follows a chaotic start to 2026 where leadership announced sweeping plans to overhaul the publication.

Stars and Stripes has maintained its continuous run since World War II. The outlet defines itself as a provider of independent news for active-duty servicemembers, DoD civilians, veterans, contractors, and their families. It claims to operate under First Amendment principles. Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, told Fox News Digital that the department is proud to put Devine in charge on an acting basis.

"As a former Marine Corps colonel and a seasoned public affairs leader, Chris brings unmatched expertise, strategic vision and a commitment to ensuring Stars and Stripes maintains editorial independence while delivering exclusive, mission-focused reporting that directly serves America's war fighters and their families," Parnell stated. He added that Devine will offer decisive leadership to modernize the paper and strengthen its core mission.

Devine plans to split his time between his new role as acting publisher and his existing duties at the public affairs office until a permanent successor is found. In a statement, Devine called the organization a dynamic media entity with a prestigious history. He expressed hope that he could lend a strong arm during this interim period to support the men and women contributing to its legacy.

The Pentagon funds roughly half of Stars and Stripes' annual budget according to the newspaper's own website. The department began 2026 by declaring intentions to completely restructure the long-running publication. Parnell posted on X in January that the Department of War is returning the paper to its original mission: reporting for warfighters. He said they are bringing Stars and Stripes into the 21st century by modernizing operations and refocusing content away from what he calls woke distractions that sap morale.

"No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more Associated Press reprints," Parnell insisted in his announcement. The goal is to tailor the outlet specifically for military needs, focusing on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, and survivability. The department says it remains committed to ensuring the paper reflects its proud legacy of reporting news important to service members.

This shake-up came after significant turmoil in August when longtime publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte were fired. A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that the terminations stemmed from unauthorized participation by Slavin and Korte in a CBS Sunday Morning segment about the Pentagon's overhaul efforts. The source also noted Lederer refused to fire them at the direction of Pentagon leadership.

Those three staff members have since filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon. They allege their dismissals violated their First Amendment rights and statutory protections, claiming they face imminent retaliation. In September, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied a temporary restraining order sought by Stars and Stripes to reverse the firings. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs ultimately failed to carry their significant burden to show they are clearly entitled to a preliminary injunction.

The situation remains fluid as the Pentagon seeks stability for its military newspaper while navigating these legal challenges and internal reforms.