Journalists Walk Out of Pentagon After Rejecting New Media Restrictions Imposed by Dept of War
In an unprecedented standoff over press freedom, dozens of journalists have walked out of the Pentagon after rejecting a new set of media restrictions imposed by the newly renamed US Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense). The dramatic protest unfolded on Wednesday afternoon as reporters packed up their desks, boxed their files, and lined the Pentagon’s hallways to return their access badges before a 4 p.m. deadline. Around 40 to 50 journalists from roughly 30 major outlets — including Fox News, Reuters, and The New York Times — refused to sign the Department’s new access policy, effectively ending decades of embedded reporting within the Pentagon. Under the new rules, journalists are required to pledge not to gather or publish any information without formal authorization — even if the material is unclassified. Reporters who fail to comply risk losing their credentials and could be labeled a “security or safety risk.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who introduced the measures last month, defended them as “common-sense regulations” to manage what he called a “disruptive and reckless press.” The Department insists the rules are meant to “protect sensitive operations” and ensure “accurate, authorized reporting.” But the Pentagon Press Association, representing over 100 news organizations, condemned the move as “a dark day for press freedom,” warning it signals a collapse of transparency and public accountability within the US government. The controversy comes as President Donald Trump ramps up his attacks on the media, calling mainstream outlets “fake news” and accusing them of bias. Following the suspension of TV host Jimmy Kimmel, Trump even threatened to punish networks that cover him “negatively,” suggesting their broadcast licenses should be “taken away.” The simultaneous crackdown by both the Pentagon and the White House has sparked widespread alarm among press freedom advocates, who say the United States — once a global symbol of free speech — is now edging toward state-controlled journalism.
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