On September 19, the US Department of Defense issued a 17-page memorandum requiring credentialed journalists stationed at the Pentagon to sign a commitment letter, forbidding them from reporting unauthorized information, including non-confidential data. Violating this policy may lead to the loss of access to the Pentagon.
Secretary Pete Hegseth released this policy, mandating all journalists to sign a confidentiality agreement before entering the Pentagon.
The agreement specifically states that even non-confidential information must be approved by the respective authorized officials before publication. The signed form outlines various security requirements for credentialed media at the Pentagon.
Hegseth stated that the new regulations prohibit journalists from freely roaming in most areas of the Pentagon without authorization or government escort, areas that were previously open for media coverage of US military activities.
In a statement on X platform, he wrote, “The press does not run the Pentagon – the people do. (From now on) News workers will no longer be allowed to roam freely in the corridors of this secure facility. Wear your badge and follow the rules – or please go back home.”
This year, the Pentagon has implemented significant adjustments and restrictions on media, including the withdrawal of CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill, and The War Zone, while allowing Newsmax, The Washington Observer, The Daily Caller, and The Free Press to move in.
Mike Balsamo, the Chairman of the National Press Club, pointed out that if reporting requires government approval, the public will not have access to independent reporting and will only see the content officials want them to see.
The journalist association opposes the new regulations, calling it “shocking” in its practice.
During Hegseth’s early tenure, the Pentagon drew external attention due to two leakage incidents: One involved Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, accidentally being added to a Signal group where the Secretary and staff discussed military operations in Yemen. Former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was subsequently reassigned.
The other incident involved billionaire Elon Musk leaking information to The New York Times about the original plan for the US military to brief him on US-China combat plans. Although the briefing was never held due to Trump’s order, the Pentagon still launched investigations into the two officials involved and suspended their duties.