17/10/2025
In an unprecedented standoff between the U.S. Department of Defense and the press, dozens of journalists have packed up their desks and vacated the Pentagon after refusing to sign new reporting rules introduced under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The new policy requires reporters with Pentagon press credentials to agree not to seek or publish āunauthorizedā information even if the material isnāt classified or risk losing access to the building entirely. Journalists were given a deadline to comply, and those who didnāt were asked to return their badges and clear their workspaces.
By Thursday, the once-bustling Pentagon press room had emptied. Around 40 to 50 reporters from major outlets including The New York Times, Reuters, CNN, Associated Press, and The Washington Post turned in their credentials, gathering personal items and leaving behind decades of tradition in military reporting.
Only a handful of outlets, among them One America News Network (OANN), signed the new agreement.
Critics across the media and political landscape say the rules threaten press freedom and government transparency, warning that the policy could have a chilling effect on investigative reporting. āThis isnāt just about access,ā one journalist told Reuters. āItās about accountability. If you can only report what they approve, then the truth becomes optional.ā
The Pentagon, however, has defended the move as a ācommon-senseā update meant to protect sensitive information and ensure consistency with other federal agencies. Officials insist the policy isnāt intended to restrict coverage but to safeguard national security.
Still, many see it as a troubling sign for democracy. Physical access to the Pentagon has long been a crucial part of U.S. defense journalism allowing reporters to build sources, ask questions in real time, and keep the public informed about military actions and policy decisions.
Now, with fewer journalists on the inside, that window to one of the most powerful buildings in the world has grown smaller.
