Max Lederer, who has served as the publisher of Stars and Stripes since 2007, announced his retirement on Tuesday. Lederer has been affiliated with the organization since 1992, holding various roles before taking the helm of the publication. His departure comes after nearly two decades in the publisher role.

In his announcement, Lederer explicitly linked his decision to retire to his dissatisfaction with the Pentagon’s management of the outlet. Specifically, he pointed to concerns regarding the direction the Department of Defense is taking the publication under the current administration. Stars and Stripes, which provides news to the U.S. military community, maintains a unique position as an independent news organization that is nonetheless funded by the Pentagon. This structure has historically led to tensions regarding editorial independence.

While Lederer’s statement highlights a conflict between the publisher and the Pentagon, the Department of Defense has not yet issued a detailed public response to his specific claims regarding editorial interference. The announcement marks the end of a significant era for the publication, as Lederer’s tenure spanned multiple presidential administrations. The transition plan for his replacement has not been immediately disclosed by the organization.