Overview

• The Defense Department circulated an updated credentialing policy on Monday requiring reporters and news organizations to acknowledge the rules within a week and sign that they agree to them.
• The Pentagon Press Association said the policy sends an unprecedented message of intimidation and could allow credentials to be revoked for seeking unapproved information, even if unclassified.
• The revised draft drops an earlier proposal for prepublication approval but still asks journalists to affirm in writing their understanding of policies that media lawyers say could impede routine reporting.
• The association said the policy signals plans to move all outlets out of dedicated Pentagon workspaces, following earlier removals of CNN, NBC, NPR and The Washington Post under a new rotation system.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the measures as necessary to curb unauthorized disclosures, while newsroom leaders and press‑freedom advocates weigh possible legal action and the risk of reduced access.