In a significant move that could redefine military journalism, the Pentagon announced on Friday sweeping new restrictions for reporters. Journalists covering the Department of Defense will now be compelled to sign a pledge promising not to acquire or publish any information that hasn’t been officially sanctioned for release. Failure to comply could result in immediate revocation of their military press credentials.
This fresh directive, detailed in a memo distributed to the press corps, marks another instance in a pattern of actions by the Trump administration aimed at curtailing the media’s capacity to report on the federal government independently.
While the 17-page memo from the Department of Defense claims an unwavering commitment to “transparency to promote accountability and public trust,” it paradoxically states that “information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”
Beyond controlling information, the new policy also restricts journalists’ physical access within the Pentagon. Significant portions of the building, previously accessible, are now off-limits unless reporters are accompanied by an escort. This tightens controls on the approximately 90 credentialed reporters who once enjoyed largely unescorted movement in many areas of the building and its corridors.
Critics fear this policy could severely impede the public’s understanding of U.S. military operations. The National Press Club swiftly condemned the measures, labeling them a “direct assault on independent journalism” and demanding their immediate withdrawal.
In defense of the new rules, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the guidelines align with practices on “every other military base in the country” and are simply “basic, common-sense guidelines to protect sensitive information.”
Explore the Pentagon’s New Directives for Journalists
This crucial document outlines the Pentagon’s new policy: reporters are forbidden from collecting unauthorized information, with press pass revocation as a consequence for non-compliance.
This strained relationship between the Pentagon and the press mirrors a broader, often adversarial stance taken by the Trump administration. The White House has frequently denied access to news organizations whose coverage it deemed unfavorable, and President Trump himself has initiated lawsuits against prominent media outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times over their reporting.
In a related incident, after the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Federal Communications Commission head Brendan Carr issued a stark warning to television stations: face “fines or license revocation” if they continued airing Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC. Kimmel’s comments were perceived by some as critical of the “Make America Great Again” movement and Mr. Kirk, leading ABC to indefinitely suspend the program.
This year, the Defense Department has been under intense media scrutiny. Reports uncovered that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified war plans in a private group chat, which notably included a journalist. Furthermore, the Secretary faced questions after inviting billionaire Elon Musk to a top-secret briefing regarding potential war plans with China. More recently, media attention focused on the legality of two military strikes that resulted in the deaths of 14 people on Venezuelan boats. On Friday, President Trump announced that a third Venezuelan vessel had been destroyed by U.S. forces, claiming three more lives.
Secretary Hegseth’s tenure has seen a progressive tightening of restrictions on military press coverage. This began in late January with the controversial decision to evict four news organizations from their Pentagon workspaces, reallocating those spaces to outlets like Breitbart News, which are perceived as offering more sympathetic coverage to the administration.
A former Fox News host, Mr. Hegseth has adopted an increasingly hostile stance toward the press. He has frequently accused journalists of trying to “sabotage” President Trump’s agenda by publishing information purportedly leaked by “disgruntled former employees.” Notably, he has conducted only one official press briefing since taking office, following a military strike in Iran this past June.
“The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do,” Mr. Hegseth declared on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Meanwhile, President Trump hinted to reporters on Thursday that news organizations should face repercussions for any negative reporting on his administration.
“They give me only bad publicity or press,” President Trump stated. “I mean, they’re getting a license, I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
Pentagon spokesman Mr. Parnell remained silent when asked why these new guidelines were being implemented now, and whether the White House played a role in their development. The White House has yet to offer an official comment on the matter.
The controversial new pledge requires journalists to formally agree that obtaining or using unapproved information will lead to “immediate suspension” of their Pentagon access. This extends beyond traditionally classified materials to encompass “controlled unclassified information”—a broad designation for data that, if made public, could potentially jeopardize national security.
It remains ambiguous whether this prohibition also extends to journalists soliciting information directly from Defense Department personnel, or even seeking official confirmation or comments on details they’ve acquired through other channels.
The Pentagon Press Association acknowledged the new directive concerning badge access, stating they are currently “reviewing it.”
Seth Stern, advocacy director for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, emphasized that the government cannot legally compel journalists to relinquish their right to investigate the government simply to gain access or credentials.
“This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication, which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,” Mr. Stern asserted. “The government cannot prohibit journalists from public information merely by claiming it’s a secret or even a national security threat.”
Kate Conger contributed reporting.