WASHINGTON (TNND) — The deadline for media outlets to sign the Pentagon’s new press policy is Wednesday, and only the conservative news outlet One America News has agreed to the Pentagon’s restrictive terms on how reporters can gather information.
Under the Defense Department’s new policy, members of the press must agree to not obtain or publish material, which is not authorized for the public, even if its unclassified.
Journalists are also restricted from freely roaming throughout the Pentagon and are required to be accompanied by a Pentagon official in some areas of the building.
Failure to sign the press pass means that media outlets are in danger of losing their press accreditations. Press members who violate the new agreement are also at risk of losing their press access to the Pentagon.
“The policy does not ask for them to agree, just to acknowledge that they understand what our policy is,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
“This has caused reporters to have a full blown meltdown, crying victim online. We stand by our policy because it’s what’s best for our troops and the national security of this country.”
The Pentagon Press Association said the Defense Department’s new policy was “designed to stifle a free press and potentially expose us to prosecution for simply doing our jobs.” The Association continues, saying the policy “conveys an unprecedented message of intimidation to everyone within the DoD, warning against any unapproved interactions with the press and even suggesting it’s criminal to speak without express permission — which plainly, it is not.”
More than a dozen news outlets have pushed back against the Pentagon, saying they will no sign the new media policy.
Those outlets include:
- Fox News
- The Washington Post
- The Atlantic
- The Guardian
- The Wall Street Journal
- NPR
- Reuters
- Newsmax
- New York Times
- Axios
- The Associated Press
- The Hill
- CNN
- The Washington Times
- The Washington Examiner
Even Hegseth’s previous employer Fox News, where Hegseth worked as show host, is coordinating a joint statement in opposition to Hegseth’s media policy, which is expected to be published Tuesday, according to Status.
In many of their statements rejecting the new press policy, the media outlets said the Pentagon will be held to less accountability to the public.
“So now, how will the American people find out what is being done at the Pentagon in their name, with their hard-earned tax dollars, and more importantly, the decisions that may put their sons and daughters in harm’s way?” NPR’s Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman asked in a column.
“With no reporters able to ask questions, it seems the Pentagon leadership will continue to rely on slick social media posts, carefully orchestrated short videos and interviews with partisan commentators and podcasters. No one should think that’s good enough.”
John Ullyot, who served as the Pentagon spokesperson for the first few months of the Trump administration, blasted Hegseth for pushing on the press “Soviet-style restrictions.” Notably, Ullyot signed a memo this year permitting the removal of established media from the Pentagon at the bequest of Hegseth.
“Hegseth should drop the Soviet-style restrictions, reopen the briefing room and follow the lead of President Trump and every other cabinet secretary by engaging regularly, confidently and conversationally with reporters of all stripes,” Ullyot told the Washington Post.
But Hegseth remains flippant in the face of the media outlets’ opposition to his press policy. He posted on social media emojis waving goodbye in response to statements issued by the New York Times and The Atlantic.
“Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right,” Hegseth said in a post on X on Monday.
“Press no longer roams free. Press must wear visible badge. Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal acts. DONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every U.S military installation.”
