As noted by the AP, Washington called the new rules “common sense.” However, the media almost unanimously rejected new provisions introduced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that would expose journalists to expulsion if they tried to report information – secret or otherwise – that the secretary of war had not approved for disclosure.
The AP described how boxes of documents lined a Pentagon corridor as reporters carried chairs, a photocopier, books and old photos to the parking lot. Shortly after 16. about 40-50 journalists left the building after returning their press passes.
“It's sad, but I'm really proud of the press corps for sticking together,” said The Atlantic reporter Nancy Youssef, a Pentagon correspondent since 2007.
Earlier, the Pentagon Coverage Journalists Association (PPA) condemned the new policy of Hegseth, who formerly worked for Fox News.
When Secretary Hegseth took office, Pentagon officials pledged to make the department “the most transparent in history. Since then, we have witnessed the systematic restriction of access to information about the U.S. military, information that is critical to soldiers, their families, all American taxpayers and the general public,” the association said.
According to AP, photos of reporters demonstrating against restrictions on their work are unlikely to move supporters of Donald Trump. Many hold grudges against journalists and support the president's efforts to make their work more difficult.
Over the past year, Trump has been embroiled in lawsuits with outlets including The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, the Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press.
