The deadline for agreeing to the new rules was Tuesday, October 14. In connection with this, the major television networks CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN issued a joint statement announcing that they would not sign the new Pentagon regulations. The editorial offices that refused consent also included the newspapers “The New York Times”, “Washington Post” and “Washington Times”, as well as the AP and AFP agencies. In protest against the policy established by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth (former Fox News host), both liberal and conservative newsrooms, including his former employer, stood shoulder to shoulder. This refusal may result in the invalidation of approximately 100 press accreditations in total.
“We refuse to agree to new Pentagon requirements that would limit journalists' ability to report to the country and the world on important national security issues,” a joint statement from US media said.
This position has found support among reporters on the conservative Fox News network. “We all stand in solidarity,” commented journalist Bret Baier, one of the station's most important stars.
On the same channel, retired General Jack Keane, former vice chief of staff of the United States Army and national security expert, also criticized the restrictions. “It's not journalism. Journalism is going out and finding a story and getting all the facts to support it,” Keane insists.
New rules at the Pentagon – only with escorts and without briefings
Under the draft new rules, although journalists are not formally barred from conducting investigations or publishing stories based on classified or sensitive information, they could be considered a “security risk” if they ask Defense Department personnel about such data.
Additionally, journalists can only move outside designated areas in the Pentagon when accompanied by an official escort. The number of press briefings has also been limited – during the Joe Biden administration there were on average at least two per week, this year there were a total of six.
The Pentagon building in Washington, USAIvan Cholakov / Shutterstock
Donald Trump defends new rules at the Pentagon
The new rules are defended by US President Donald Trump. “He finds the press very destructive to world peace,” he said of the Pentagon chief to reporters at the White House. He also described the media as “very dishonest.” Hegseth himself described the new policy as based on common sense and accused journalists of trying to persuade Department of Defense employees to break the law by extracting information from them.
