The Pentagon has rolled out a new policy requiring journalists who cover the Department of Defense to sign a pledge restricting what they can report. Under the guidelines, reporters are barred from using information that hasn’t been cleared by government officials, even if the material is not classified.
If they refuse, their press credentials and access to Pentagon briefings could be revoked.
The move, pushed under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has sparked immediate backlash from press freedom groups, constitutional law experts, and major media organizations.
The 17-page memo outlines a sweeping rule: no information can be published unless it’s formally approved for release. That includes unclassified data, routine updates, and even background details that journalists typically gather through their reporting.
The National Press Club called the policy a “direct threat to press freedom” and said it undermines transparency at a time when accountability in defense matters is more critical than ever.
The fight is already spilling into the legal arena, with constitutional challenges expected. For immediately, journalists covering the Pentagon face a tough choice: sign the pledge and follow the rules, or risk losing their ability to cover the nation’s defense headquarters altogether.
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