Judge Refuses to Block Pentagon from Firing Stars and Stripes Journalists

A federal judge has declined to block the Pentagon from firing journalists at Stars and Stripes who say they were illegally punished for speaking out about the publication’s editorial independence.

US District Judge Trevor McFadden’s ruling allows the Defense Department, at least for now, to move ahead with greater editorial control over the military news outlet.

The journalists had sought to stop the dismissals, arguing that they were punished for defending the need for Stars and Stripes to retain its independence. The ruling leaves the Pentagon’s plans in place while the dispute continues.