The Pentagon is tightening its grip on the press.
Reporters who cover the Department of Defense will now be forced to sign a pledge promising not to publish information unless it has been approved for release.
Two U.S. officials confirmed the shift to NPR on Friday. Those who refuse will lose their press credentials, effectively locking them out of the headquarters of the world’s most powerful military.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth left no doubt about the new policy. “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do,” he wrote on X. “Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.”
The “press” does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home. pic.twitter.com/nkG1m6bW3z
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 19, 2025
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
The new rules mark a sharp break with decades of tradition. Journalists have long been able to walk Pentagon halls, stop officials for questions, and gather unclassified details about U.S. military operations. Now, even that freedom is gone.
According to a note reporters must sign, “information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.” Anyone who breaks that promise risks suspension or a permanent loss of access.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the changes in an email Friday night. He said any unauthorized disclosure could “pose a security risk that could damage the national security of the United States and place Defense Department personnel in jeopardy.”
But press advocates are alarmed. The Pentagon Press Association said its members are reviewing the directive and warned it gives the government sweeping power over what can be reported.
The policy is also part of a wider crackdown.
In January, the Pentagon took away workspaces from major outlets like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Politico, while allowing smaller conservative outlets to stay. Later, desks for NBC News and CNN were also removed.
Reporters lost even more access in May after Hegseth faced criticism for sharing details of U.S. strikes in Yemen in a private Signal chat. Journalists were then confined to press bullpens, the cafeteria, and the courtyard. To go anywhere else, they needed an escort.
Now the restrictions are even tighter. Reporters who once had daily access to the offices of the defense secretary, the joint staff, and the armed services will be treated as potential security threats if they publish unapproved information.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
