The Pentagon has issued a stern warning to journalists, stating that their access to the building will be contingent on agreeing to new restrictions that prohibit the disclosure of unauthorized information. This policy change, which also aims to limit the movement of reporters within the facility, comes in the wake of several high-profile leaks.
Pete Hegseth, newly appointed as Secretary of War, emphasized the new approach on social media, stating, “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.”
The new guidelines were detailed in a briefing note that journalists must sign to retain their credentials. The Department of War affirmed its commitment to transparency but stressed that all information, even if unclassified, requires official approval before public release. Signatories will acknowledge that credential decisions may be influenced by unauthorized access or disclosure of classified or controlled unclassified information.
A Pentagon spokesperson noted that these guidelines align with existing standards across other military bases, emphasizing their role in protecting sensitive information and national security. This development follows scrutiny of Hegseth’s handling of sensitive information and previous leaks that appeared to contradict official statements on international matters.