Hegseth on Thursday fired Stars and Stripes' ombudsman, whose job it had to been to protect the newspapers' editorial in [View all]

We are losing so many good people--people who keep us informed and safe.




April 24, 2026 / 4:12 PM
Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes ombudsman

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/04/24/stars-stripes-ombudsman-fired/9641777059091/

By Stephen Feller


Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday fired Stars and Stripes' ombudsman, whose job it had to been to protect the newspapers' editorial independence and report to Congress if military officials were interfering with it. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo

April 24 (UPI) -- The Department of Defense fired Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith, whose job it was to protect the military-funded news organizations' editorial independence, without giving her a reason.

Smith was told on Thursday that her last day at the newspaper will be Tuesday and that "this action is not grievable," she wrote in an op-ed published by Stars and Stripes.

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"No one should be surprised that they're kicking out the one person charged by Congress with protecting Stars and Stripes' editorial independence," Smith wrote in the op-ed.........................