Hegseth fires Stars and Stripes ombudsman amid wave of high-level Pentagon dismissals

The Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has fired Jacqueline Smith, the independent ombudsman for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, amid growing concerns over editorial interference. Smith, who served as a watchdog to protect the publication's independence, announced her dismissal in a pointed statement, writing, “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.” According to reporting from The Independent, her ouster appears directly linked to her criticisms of efforts to undermine the paper's autonomy, a role established to ensure unbiased coverage for U.S. service members.

This firing is unfolding against a backdrop of high-profile dismissals that have sown fear and uncertainty throughout the Pentagon. Just days earlier, Hegseth removed Navy Secretary John Phelan in a sudden move framed as an “immediate departure,” as reported by Axios and The Wall Street Journal. Tensions between the two had escalated for months, reportedly over Phelan's pace in advancing President Trump's ambitious “Golden Fleet” of new warships, as well as instances where Phelan bypassed Hegseth to pitch ideas directly to the president. Phelan's exit came amid a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, adding to the high-stakes environment, according to NBC News and Democracy Now coverage.

The dismissals extend beyond Phelan. Weeks prior, Hegseth pushed out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, intensifying what insiders describe as palace intrigue within the Defense Department. An administration official told The Independent that “there's a lot of confusion and head-shaking,” likening the atmosphere to “petty middle-school drama” or a “Mean Girls” scenario, per Axios. Fears of further firings are rippling through the ranks, with public disputes between Hegseth and other leaders—such as potential tensions over replacements like Yale Law graduate Driscoll—fueling speculation about loyalty tests and power struggles.

Stars and Stripes, funded by the Defense Department but congressionally protected for its editorial freedom, serves as a vital news source for troops worldwide, making Smith's role crucial for maintaining trust in military journalism. Her firing raises alarms about potential censorship or politicization of information reaching service members, especially as the Pentagon navigates geopolitical flashpoints like the Iran blockade. Those affected include not only the newspaper's staff and readers but also broader Pentagon personnel bracing for more upheaval.

What happens next remains unclear, but the pattern of ousters signals Hegseth's aggressive push to align the department with Trump's vision. Congressional hearings on Navy budgets, where Phelan testified just before his dismissal, could draw scrutiny, while Stars and Stripes faces questions about its future oversight. As one official noted to The Independent, the atmosphere of unpredictability is eroding morale, potentially complicating military readiness at a tense moment for U.S. forces abroad.