Pentagon to Remove ‘Woke Distractions’ From Stars and Stripes Publication

Democratic senators expressed concern over the Pentagon’s decision to take control of the military newspaper.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on July 2, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo

The Pentagon will remove “woke distractions” from the Stars and Stripes news publication for the U.S. military and return content to its original mission, U.S. Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Sean Parnell announced on Thursday.

“We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century,” Parnell posted on X. “We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.”