Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper protected by Congress as an independent publication, is screening job applicants on their support for President Donald Trump’s agenda after political questions were quietly added to applications on the USAJobs platform, according to reporting by the Washington Post. The paper’s ombudsman confirmed applicants were asked how they would advance Trump’s executive orders, a move she said directly conflicts with journalistic ethics and the outlet’s legally mandated autonomy. Editors and former staff said the questions would have raised serious concerns about impartiality, while officials blamed the Office of Personnel Management and insisted the responses were optional. Critics warned the episode threatens the credibility of a publication relied on by service members and their families for objective reporting.
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