Major News Outlets Reject Pentagon’s New Press Restrictions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Major U.S. news outlets, including both liberal and conservative organizations, are rejecting the Pentagon’s new press access policy, calling it a threat to First Amendment rights. The rules would require journalists to sign a pledge or risk losing access. Press freedom groups argue the move is an attempt to suppress independent reporting on the military.
Pentagon Press Access Fight Quick Looks
- Pentagon introduces press policy requiring pledge from reporters
- Journalists risk losing credentials for noncompliance
- News outlets like NPR, NYT, WSJ, and Newsmax refuse to sign
- Obama-era and conservative outlets unite in defense of press freedom
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends policy, calls press access a “privilege”
- Policy softened slightly but still considered restrictive by media
- New rules coincide with broader Pentagon info control strategy
- Pentagon Press Association warns of legal and constitutional concerns
- White House, State Department press associations back media protest
- Only OAN has signaled intent to comply with new rules
Deep Look: Newsrooms Across Political Spectrum Reject Pentagon’s Restrictive Press Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare show of bipartisan unity, dozens of news organizations — ranging from The New York Times to Newsmax — are refusing to sign a controversial new policy issued by the Department of Defense that could limit reporters’ access and potentially punish them for gathering unapproved information.
The policy, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, requires journalists to sign a pledge committing to the Pentagon’s updated rules in order to maintain their press credentials. Reporters have until Tuesday at 5 p.m. to comply, or risk losing access to Pentagon briefings, officials, and facilities.
“Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right,” Hegseth posted on X (formerly Twitter), responding to media pushback with a blunt waving hand emoji.
Media Organizations Say ‘No’
News outlets from across the ideological spectrum are rejecting the policy, arguing that it infringes on First Amendment protections and threatens the public’s right to know how $1 trillion in taxpayer military spending is managed.
The Pentagon Press Association (PPA) issued a stern warning Monday, stating that the new agreement “appears designed to stifle a free press and potentially expose us to prosecution for simply doing our jobs.”
Here’s what key outlets are saying:
- The Washington Post: “The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections,” said editor Matt Murray.
- The New York Times: “The policy threatens to punish reporters for ordinary news gathering,” said D.C. bureau chief Richard Stevenson.
- NPR: Editor-in-chief Thomas Evans said the outlet “will not sign” and called the policy a threat to trustworthy, independent journalism.
- Reuters: Warned the Pentagon’s move “erodes fundamental press freedoms.”
- The Atlantic: Editor Jeffrey Goldberg called it a violation of the First Amendment.
- Newsmax: The conservative network said the rules were “unnecessary and onerous” and confirmed it won’t sign.
- Washington Times: Also declined to sign, per its editor Christopher Dolan.
- Axios, AP, and The Hill have also refused to comply with the new terms.
Only OAN Complies, So Far
So far, the only major media outlet to indicate willingness to sign the new policy is One America News (OAN), a conservative cable network closely aligned with former President Donald Trump.
The Pentagon Press Association says most of its members are prepared to “hand over their badges rather than acknowledge a policy that gags Pentagon employees and threatens retaliation against reporters who seek information outside official channels.”
What’s in the New Pentagon Rules?
The controversial policy includes:
- A requirement for reporters to sign a pledge to abide by new guidelines
- A threat to revoke credentials if the pledge is not signed
- A clause that implies journalists may be punished for acquiring or publishing information not pre-approved by the Pentagon
- No requirement for journalists to submit stories for pre-publication review (after revision due to backlash)
Critics argue the policy remains dangerously vague and gives the government too much discretion over what can be reported.
Wider Strategy to Tighten Information Flow
This press crackdown is part of a larger effort by the Pentagon under Hegseth to control how the military communicates with the public:
- A memo last month restricted how and when Pentagon officials may speak with the press or public.
- Several mainstream media outlets, including CNN, NBC News, NPR, and Politico, were removed from Pentagon workspaces and replaced with conservative outlets like Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, and Newsmax under a new “rotation” system.
- The new approach reflects Hegseth’s view that Pentagon engagement had “tended to canalize toward certain types of institutions,” a possible jab at mainstream press outlets.
Unusual Bipartisan Support for Press Freedom
In a noteworthy moment of cross-party solidarity, both liberal and conservative media organizations have united to oppose the policy. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and the State Department Correspondents’ Association released a joint statement supporting the Pentagon Press Association’s stance.
This is not the first time right-leaning media have defended press freedom. In February, Newsmax and Fox News signed a joint letter to the White House protesting a ban on Associated Press reporters.
What’s Next?
The clock is ticking. With the Tuesday deadline fast approaching, most top-tier media outlets appear committed to rejecting the pledge — even if it means losing access. The story is quickly becoming a flashpoint for broader debates about government transparency, media independence, and how information is controlled during election seasons.
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