U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced new orders requiring journalists to be accompanied by official escorts when inside most areas of the Pentagon. This decision marks the latest in a series of restrictions on the press implemented during the Trump administration.
Effective immediately, these regulations will prevent credentialed reporters from accessing the majority of the Department of Defense’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, unless they have official approval and an escort.
“The Department is committed to transparency while also tasked with protecting classified intelligence and sensitive information. Unauthorized disclosure of this information could endanger the lives of U.S. service members,” Hegseth stated in a memorandum.
He emphasized that safeguarding classified national intelligence and operational security is “a fundamental obligation for the Department.”
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents the interests of the military press corps, expressed concern that the new regulations represent a “direct attack on press freedom.”
“This decision is reportedly based on operational security concerns. Yet, the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to unclassified areas in the Pentagon for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, including after the 9/11 attacks, without any OP-SEC issues raised by DoD leadership,” the statement noted.
In response to inquiries, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell remarked, “These updated measures are essential for protecting sensitive information and ensuring the safety of our U.S. service members from avoidable risks.”
Since President Trump resumed office in January, the Pentagon has initiated an investigation into leaks, which has led to three officials being placed on administrative leave.
Furthermore, the Pentagon has mandated that legacy media organizations, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and NBC News, vacate their office spaces at the Pentagon as part of a new rotation system that now includes outlets generally aligned with the Trump administration, including the New York Post, Breitbart, and One America News Network.
The administration states that this move aims to provide other media outlets an opportunity to participate as resident members of the press corps.
More broadly, the Trump administration has introduced the use of lie detector tests in investigating unclassified information leaks, with some Department of Homeland Security officials reportedly facing dismissal for refusing polygraph examinations, as reported by Reuters. The White House maintains that Trump will not tolerate leaks to the media, asserting that federal employees responsible for such leaks must face accountability.
Hegseth’s recent order also mandates that members of the Pentagon press corps acknowledge their responsibility to protect national intelligence and sensitive information, stating that they will receive new credentials that clearly identify them as press members.
“We also expect to announce additional security measures and increased scrutiny regarding credential issuance,” the memo added.
