Jacqueline Smith, the former ombudsman of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon on Thursday, alleging that her termination was retaliatory and violated her First Amendment rights. Smith was dismissed in April, just 10 days after publishing an opinion column criticizing Pentagon officials for canceling syndicated comic strips in the newspaper.
The complaint, filed in federal court in Washington, outlines that Smith’s three-year term as ombudsman — a position mandated by Congress and charged with protecting the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes — was not set to expire until December 2026. In her April 8 column, Smith criticized recent editorial changes at the publication, including reductions in republished Associated Press articles, framing these decisions as part of broader Pentagon efforts to restrict mainstream media. She referenced the department’s previous limitations on the external press corps, which had resulted in widespread journalist departures and subsequent litigation by the New York Times.
Smith said in an interview that her dismissal was directly connected to columns she wrote since January 15, which challenged what she viewed as Pentagon attempts to influence the newspaper’s editorial content. “I’m charging that my First Amendment rights were violated for speaking out,” she said.
Her attorney, John Bussian, described the lawsuit as a response to government retaliation for exercising constitutionally protected speech. Bussian is seeking an injunction to reinstate Smith as ombudsman. The lawsuit names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, and Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, as defendants. The complaint alleges that Parnell caused Smith “financial and emotional damages” and was “personally and directly involved” in the decision to terminate her.
Pentagon spokespersons did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Stars and Stripes editor in chief Erik Slavin declined to comment.
Stars and Stripes has maintained editorial independence for decades despite being funded by and staffed with Department of Defense employees. However, in January, Parnell criticized the newspaper as “woke” and announced plans to overhaul it. He stated on the social media platform X that the Pentagon aimed to return Stars and Stripes to its “original mission” of serving service members, shifting its focus away from what he described as “woke distractions” that undermine morale.
Smith acknowledged that accepting the ombudsman role carried political risks but emphasized the importance of defending the First Amendment without regard to personal consequences. “When you’re standing up for what’s right, you really shouldn’t consider personal risks in the equation,” she said.
Earlier this month, two Stars and Stripes advisory board members also filed a separate lawsuit against the Defense Department. They contend that a Pentagon memo violates First Amendment protections and federal administrative law.
Smith’s legal action seeks reinstatement for the remainder of her term and damages from Parnell. She acknowledged that the legal process could be lengthy but expressed hope for a resolution. “Not fighting back wasn’t an option,” Smith said, adding when asked about potential retaliation for filing the suit, “Anything could happen. But I’ve already been fired.”