Pentagon Imposes Drastic New Media Restrictions, Drawing Widespread Condemnation
Pentagon Imposes Drastic New Media Restrictions, Drawing Widespread Condemnation
In a move sparking immediate and fierce criticism from news organizations, the Pentagon has implemented sweeping new rules for journalists covering the Department of Defense. Effective immediately, reporters must sign a pledge prohibiting them from gathering or reporting any information, even unclassified data, that has not been explicitly authorized for release by the DoD.
The 17-page document, obtained by NPR, outlines the severe consequences for non-compliance: journalists who violate the new policy risk losing their press credentials, effectively cutting off their access to the heart of the U.S. government’s largest department. The rebranded ‘Department of War’ (DoW) stated its commitment to transparency but emphasized that ‘DoW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the controversial shift on social media, declaring, ‘The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do.’ This latest directive follows earlier restrictions announced by Hegseth this year, which limited reporters’ movement within the Pentagon without an approved escort, breaking decades of established tradition across administrations.
Critics from across the media landscape and free press advocates have denounced the new rules as a direct assault on independent journalism. National Press Club President Mike Balsamo stated, ‘This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military.’ NPR’s editor-in-chief, Thomas Evans, affirmed the organization’s commitment to push back against the policy, citing a strong belief in the First Amendment and public transparency.
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