Elaina Batista, Asst. Social Media Editor
Journalists who cover topics related to the Pentagon’s defense department can no longer report on information unless it has been authorized by the government. As of late September, reporters who do not sign a statement agreeing to these new rules will have their press credentials revoked.
According to Politico, the initial memo sent to reporters read that all, “information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”
Multiple press associations have condemned the new rules, and believe it would fundamentally change their ability to cover not only the Pentagon, but also the U.S. military.
The National Press Club has denounced the requirement as a, “direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military.”
In response to the backlash from the press, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “The press does not run the Pentagon – the people do.”
The opposition of these new regulations was almost unanimous among the news outlets.
As reported by AP News, Hegseth demanded that reporters leave their Pentagon workplaces if they did not acknowledge regulations. Journalists claim these regulations enforce punishment for speaking on anything other than what Hegseth authorizes them to share.
The Pentagon has claimed that these new requirements and changes are, “common sense.” The Department of War (DoW) released a 17-page document outlining the new rules for the media.
In the document it states, “DoW remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust…However, DoW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official…even if it is unclassified.”
The document also states that reporters who report news outside of these regulations could be deemed “a security or safety risk.”
When Trump was questioned on the matter, he backed his defense secretary’s new rules, saying, “I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace…The press is very dishonest.”
Reporting on the U.S. military affairs will continue from a distance, but according to AP News, this has not stopped reporters from challenging the system.
Numerous news outlets have weighed in on the issue. The National Public Radio’s (NPR) Editor-in-Chief, Thomas Evans, affirmed the organization’s commitment.
“NPR is taking this matter seriously,” Evans said. “We’ll be working with other news organizations to push back. We’re big fans of the First Amendment and transparency and we want the American public to understand what’s being done in their name.”
AP News said in a statement, “The restrictions impede the public’s access to information about their government and limit the people’s right to know. AP remains focused on continuing to produce strong independent coverage of the Pentagon in the public interest.”
Additionally, in a joint statement, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and Fox News said, “Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues.”
In total, ABC News, The Associated Press, The Atlantic, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, POLITICO, Newsmax, NBC News, NPR and the The Washington Post declined the policy and cleared out their desks on Oct. 15
The newly announced Pentagon press corp with those who agreed to the policy include mostly international, independent and conservative outlets, including Breitbart News, Frontlines, The Gateway Pundit, Human Events, Just the News, LindellTV, The National Pulse, One America News Network, The Post Millennial, The Washington Examiner and The Washington Reporter.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell took to X announcing “the next generation of Pentagon press corps,” explaining how these new regulations allow media outlets to “circumvent lies of the mainstream media and get real news directly to the American people.”
On X, Hegseth responded to public statements from The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Washington Post with the “waving hand” emoji “👋”.