The U.S. Military on Friday fired the publisher and editor-in-chief of its newspaper, Stars and Stripes, citing insubordination and an unauthorised interview appearance where they opposed editorial interference and news censorship.

The newspaper is partially funded by the Department of Defence.

“According to the notice, I am being fired for stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line,” said Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief for Stars and Stripes.“I stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department’s own policies.”

Mr Slavin’s newsroom published a report nearly two weeks ago detailing the hardships and challenges facing the U.S. Navy sailors aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln after the Pentagon extended their deployment to nine months.

In July, Mr Slavin and Ms Korte were interviewed by CBS to discuss alleged editorial interference. The TV station interview bordered on the challenges facing military families as was reported by Stars and Stripes.

The newspaper’s publisher since 2007, Max Lederer, who earlier this week announced his retirement in September, was also fired.

Mr Lederer attributed his intention to retire to a clash between his vision for the paper and that of the U.S. Military leadership.

Laura Korte who worked as a Middle East reporter said she was terminated “after I told a CBS reporter that I work for Stars and Stripes – not the Pentagon, not any administration, and not any policy maker.”

“It’s a shame for the institution and service members, who swore to defend the Constitution and deserve the right to a free and independent press,” she wrote.

Weeks ago, the Defence Department deployed Captain William Urban to serve as the newspaper’s deputy publisher without pre-informing Mr Lederer, who was the publisher at the time.