Overview

• ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News issued a joint statement declining to sign, calling the policy without precedent and a threat to core journalistic protections.
• At least 20 organizations refused, including the Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Politico, The Guardian, Newsmax, Breaking Defense and Task & Purpose.
• Pentagon officials say the form is an acknowledgment of policy rather than an agreement, and told reporters to sign by 5 p.m. Tuesday or turn in credentials and vacate workspaces by Wednesday.
• The revised policy dropped explicit prepublication approval but keeps tighter escort and badge controls and warns that soliciting unauthorized information could be weighed as a security risk.
• One America News said it signed the policy, while the Pentagon Press Association and multiple outlets have engaged lawyers and raised concerns about First Amendment violations and potential prosecutorial use of the acknowledgment language.