US news outlets push back against Pentagon's reporting restrictions

October 15, 2025

Major US news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, have rejected new Pentagon guidelines requiring journalists to only report information officially authorized by the Department of Defense. The Pentagon has informed reporters who don't sign the policy by Tuesday evening that they must surrender their credentials and vacate Pentagon facilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration defend the policy as necessary for national security, while the Pentagon Press Association argues it creates an unprecedented atmosphere of intimidation.

Who is affected

Journalists and news organizations with Pentagon credentials
Pentagon employees and military personnel who interact with the media
The public who relies on independent reporting about defense matters
More than 100 members of the Pentagon Press Association
Major news outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Associated Press, Reuters, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and major TV networks
Some right-leaning news organizations like Washington Times and Newsmax

What action is being taken

The Pentagon is implementing a new policy requiring journalists to only report information officially authorized by the Department of Defense
Reporters who do not sign the policy by Tuesday's deadline must surrender their credentials and leave Pentagon facilities
Major news organizations are refusing to sign the new guidelines in protest
The Pentagon Press Association is publicly opposing the policy
Defense Secretary Hegseth is defending the policy on social media
The Pentagon has already removed dedicated office space for some outlets, reallocating spots to different news organizations

Why it matters

The policy could significantly restrict press freedom and independent reporting on military matters
It creates potential barriers to transparency in Pentagon operations and decision-making
The rules may intimidate Pentagon employees from speaking to journalists without explicit permission
For decades, reporters with identification badges had unrestricted access to non-classified areas of the Pentagon
The policy suggests that asking personnel to share unauthorized information is criminal activity
Journalists could be deemed "a security or safety risk" for reporting unclassified information without clearance
It represents an expansion of press restrictions under the current administration

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC