Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new restrictions requiring reporters to have official escorts in most areas of the Pentagon, effective immediately.
• The measures include barring journalists from offices of senior military leadership, such as those of the Joint Chiefs, without prior approval and escort.
• Journalists must sign forms to acknowledge their responsibility to protect sensitive information and will receive newly designed press credentials with clearer identification.
• The Pentagon Press Association condemned the changes, calling them a direct attack on press freedom and questioning the justification of operational security concerns.
• The restrictions follow recent high-profile leaks, including details about an Elon Musk briefing and internal Signal chats, which led to investigations and staff dismissals.