Pete Hegseth Tightens Reins on Journalists in the Pentagon

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a series of new measures Friday aimed at limiting journalists’ access to the Pentagon, citing the need to protect classified and sensitive national security information.

The directive, issued in a formal memorandum, outlines stricter controls on press entry into the Department of Defense headquarters and implements several new procedural safeguards.

Credentialed reporters will now be barred from most areas within the Pentagon unless they are granted official approval and escorted by an authorized individual.

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Hegseth emphasized the department’s dual responsibility to both transparency and security.

“While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect [Classified National Security Information] and sensitive information — the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger,” the secretary said.

In addition to the restricted access, members of the Pentagon press corps will be required to sign new forms acknowledging their obligation to protect national security and sensitive data.

Journalists will also be issued revised credentials featuring a distinct design that marks them as press representatives.

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The memo also previewed more changes to come.

“We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny on the issuance of [credentials],” Hegseth wrote.

He added that failure to adhere to these control measures “will result in further restrictions and possibly revocation of press credentials.”

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents military correspondents and news organizations covering the Department of Defense, issued a statement in response.

The group criticized the new policies as a significant departure from past practice and a threat to press freedom.

“The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security,” the statement said.

“But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership.”

We’re announcing additional credentialing procedures for press at the Pentagon in the interest of national security. pic.twitter.com/2fQA4z7AsO

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 23, 2025

The new press restrictions come amid broader efforts within the Trump administration to curtail media leaks and reshape federal communications practices.

In March, the Department of Defense launched a formal investigation into leaks, and just last month, three Pentagon officials were dismissed in connection to that probe.

As part of the shake-up, several long-established media organizations — including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NPR, Politico, and NBC News — were instructed to vacate their dedicated Pentagon office spaces.

The move is part of a new rotation policy designed to allow more diverse media outlets to gain access to the building.

Among the new outlets reportedly being granted access are Breitbart, The Daily Caller, One America News Network, and the New York Post — publications that have generally maintained a more favorable posture toward the Trump administration.

In parallel, the administration has expanded the use of polygraph examinations to root out federal employees suspected of leaking information.

Some Department of Homeland Security personnel were reportedly warned that refusal to submit to lie detector tests could result in termination.

The White House reiterated its firm stance on the matter, with officials stating that President Trump will not tolerate unauthorized disclosures and that those responsible should be held accountable.

The revised Pentagon policies reflect an evolving approach to information control within the federal government, especially as the Trump administration continues to prioritize operational security over longstanding press privileges.

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