Major News Organizations Refuse too Comply with New Pentagon Press Policy
A growing number of prominent news organizations are refusing to sign a revised press policy issued by the Pentagon, citing concerns over First Amendment rights and restrictions on reporting on military operations.The policy,spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,requires journalists to agree to certain conditions for access,which many outlets deem overly restrictive and unnecessary.
The New York Times has publicly stated its refusal to sign the pledge. Washington bureau chief Richard Stevenson said in a statement Friday, ”New York Times journalists will not sign the Pentagon’s revised press policy, which threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment.Since the policy was first announced, we have expressed concerns that it constrains how journalists can report on the U.S. military,which is funded by $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars annually. The public has a right to know how the goverment and military are operating. The Times is dedicated to pursuing the public interest through deep, fair reporting and an unwavering pursuit of the facts.”
Axios and the Associated Press have also confirmed thay will not be signing the pledge, according to spokespeople from both outlets. Washington Times executive editor and president Christopher Dolan confirmed to the Washington Post that its reporters would not comply with the new rules.
The resistance extends beyond these organizations. the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and State Department Correspondents’ Association (SDCA) jointly issued a statement supporting the Pentagon Press Association in their opposition to the policy (screenshot available here).
This isn’t an isolated incident of media solidarity. Notably, Newsmax and Fox News joined a letter to the White House in February urging the rescission of a ban against Associated Press reporters.
The new press rules are part of a broader trend toward increased control over facts coming from the Pentagon. In a memo last month, Hegseth “cemented restrictions” on when, where, and how the military and Pentagon leaders can engage with the public, stating that past engagements “have tended to canalize toward certain types of institutions” (Axios).
Earlier this year,the Defense Department replaced the press offices of several mainstream organizations with those of mostly conservative outlets. Outlets including NPR, NBC News, Politico, and CNN were informed in February they had to move out of their workspaces in the Pentagon’s Correspondents’ Corridor, though their press credentials remained valid. These spaces were then filled by mostly conservative outlets such as the Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, and Newsmax.
As of now, only one outlet, the conservative cable network One America News (OAN), has indicated its intention to sign the pledge (Washington Post).
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with further comment from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the WHCA and SDCA’s joint statement.
