Overview
- The 21-page policy requires credentialed reporters to acknowledge rules that forbid soliciting information not approved for release and preserves the department’s power to revoke access.
- Nearly every major U.S. organization declined to sign and turned in badges, with an internal list showing about 15 remaining signatories that include One America News, The Federalist, The Epoch Times and several foreign freelancers.
- The Pentagon Press Association and other press advocates condemned the policy as an attempt to stifle independent reporting and are weighing legal options to challenge the restrictions.
- Chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said the department stands by the rules for national security, President Donald Trump voiced support for Hegseth’s approach, and House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the secretary’s limited engagement in a televised exchange.
- Editors and veteran reporters said coverage will continue from outside the building, warning of chilled sourcing and reduced routine reporting, while some experts predict the clampdown could prompt more leaks.