Pentagon imposes new restrictions on journalists, drawing criticism of intimidation and reduced access

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Friday unveiled new restrictions for journalists covering the department, requiring reporters to sign a pledge not to gather or report information that has not been authorized for release, even if the material is unclassified. The policy also tightens access to the building, with reporters credentialed to cover the department told they must be escorted on several floors, and that violations could result in revocation of their credentials.

The Defense Department circulated a 17-page memo outlining the rules, which also limits movement inside the Pentagon, and restricts about 90 credentialed reporters to certain floors unless an official escorts them. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the move on X, writing, "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."

Longtime members of the Pentagon press corps and press-freedom advocates condemned the steps, calling them a stark departure from decades of precedent. Kevin Baron, a former vice president of the Pentagon Press Association who covered the beat for 15 years, told TIME the move is "100% an intimidation tactic" and warned it "kills transparency" by funneling information through the government. He noted that reporters historically could roam the DoD headquarters and even the service press offices without sign-off, with signings reserved for safety matters.

Seth Stern of the Free Press Foundation argued the policy runs counter to long-standing legal norms protecting journalists' access to government information. He described it as a "prior restraint on publication" and said the government cannot prohibit public information merely by labeling it secret or tied to national security. "The government cannot prohibit journalists from public information merely by claiming it’s a secret or even a national security threat," Stern said. He encouraged journalists to resist the rules and to forgo access if necessary.

Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, called the policy a "direct assault on independent journalism" and said, "If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting."

The move comes amid a broader climate of scrutiny over how the military and government regulate access to information. The memo follows earlier steps under Hegseth, including a February shift that rotated certain outlets out of Pentagon offices and brought in others, a change some critics described as tilting coverage toward preferred outlets and away from others. The Pentagon has long had a complicated relationship with the press, and the new rules intensify that tension at a moment when questions about transparency and accountability are central to national security reporting.

Observers say the restrictions echo broader debates about press freedom in national-security settings. Civil-liberties groups have warned that access controls can chill reporting and limit the public’s ability to scrutinize military operations. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have criticized moves that appear to restrict lawful journalistic activity and access to information about government actions.

The policy has sparked a chorus of concern from journalists and advocacy groups alike, who say that government-managed access to information undermines the principle that the public deserves independent, verifiable reporting about its military. Critics also point to historical instances in which access to DoD information and facilities was used to shape public perception, arguing that steps like the new pledge and escorted movement risk normalizing information gatekeeping rather than promoting accountability.

As the debate over press access continues, officials say the aim is to protect sensitive information and maintain order within a secure facility. Yet opponents warn that the moves risk eroding transparency and setting a precedent for broader restrictions on reporting on national security matters.

The broader context includes continued scrutiny of how executive-branch agencies manage newsroom access, with activists noting that congressional and legal challenges have historically protected journalistic inquiry into government activity. The latest Pentagon memo thus compounds a fraught environment for reporters covering defense and national security, intensifying questions about the balance between security and the public’s right to know.