Sen. Mark Kelly Sues Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: Inside the Free-Speech Showdown Rocking the Pentagon

Lead: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under intensifying scrutiny after ordering the military-run newspaper Stars and Stripes to purge what he calls “woke distractions,” a move critics say threatens the outlet’s 163-year tradition of editorial independence. Stars and Stripes Shake-Up Hegseth’s spokesman Sean Parnell announced that all future coverage will “focus on warfighting, lethality and ALL THINGS MILITARY,” adding that half of the content will be written by active-duty troops and that Associated Press and Reuters copy will be dropped. The Pentagon simultaneously struck a rule requiring a civilian editor and an independent ombudsman, effectively placing day-to-day control in Hegseth’s hands. Backlash From Press-Freedom Advocates PEN America, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and leading journalism schools condemned the directive, warning that service members overseas could lose access to unbiased reporting. Tim Richardson of PEN called the order “a mouthpiece makeover that tramples the First Amendment.” Stars and Stripes editor Erik Slavin vowed to “hold military officials to account,” signaling a looming clash with Pentagon leadership. Political and Legal Fallout The shake-up lands as Sen. Mark Kelly pursues a federal lawsuit accusing Hegseth of retaliating against him for “protected speech” after the Arizona Democrat criticized defense spending overruns. Constitutional lawyers say both cases could test how far an executive agency may go in rewriting congressional mandates that safeguard independent media. What It Means for Service Members Stars and Stripes reaches 1.2 million readers—many in remote bases with limited internet—making it a vital link to home and a historic morale booster dating to the Civil War. Veterans groups fear a propaganda tilt could erode trust and hamper on-the-ground reporting about housing, mental health and pay issues that seldom appear in official communiqués. International Optics The controversy erupted only days after Hegseth hosted Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to deepen security ties in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts note that while Washington publicly champions a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” curtailing an independent military press undercuts U.S. soft-power messaging. SEO Key Takeaways • Pete Hegseth faces backlash for Stars and Stripes overhaul • Pentagon plan removes civilian oversight and outside wire content • Press-freedom groups warn of First-Amendment violations • Lawsuit by Sen. Mark Kelly adds legal pressure • Move could undermine troop morale and U.S. credibility abroad With bipartisan lawmakers signaling legislative action to restore the paper’s autonomy, the fight over Stars and Stripes may become 2026’s pivotal battle over press freedom—and a defining test for Pete Hegseth’s tenure as defense chief.