A federal judge has refused block the Pentagon from firing three Stars and Stripes staff members who claim they were illegally disciplined for speaking out about the military news outlet’s need to maintain its editorial independence.

Three staff members from the Stars and Stripes military news outlet are suing to challenge their recent firings by the Pentagon, accusing the Trump administration of violating their First Amendment free speech rights to speak out against government interference in their work.

The editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes says the Pentagon has fired him as well as its publisher and a reporter.

The Defense Department says it is revamping the military newspaper Stars and Stripes to focus on “reporting for our warfighters” and eliminate woke distractions.