Pentagon places further restrictions on journalist access
NBC5 days
Pentagon Demands Reporters Sign Pledge on Information Use
Above: Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Sept. 19, 2025. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
These common-sense security measures simply bring Pentagon press access in line with every other military installation worldwide. Reporters previously wandered the halls with zero oversight, potentially observing sensitive meetings and classified briefings that could compromise national security. The new rules still provide full access to press offices while requiring basic escort protocols for sensitive areas — exactly what exists at military bases globally.
Democratic narrative
This is a dangerous assault on press freedom that fundamentally undermines democratic accountability of the military. Requiring government pre-approval for all reporting, even unclassified information, transforms journalists into mere stenographers rather than independent watchdogs. For generations, Pentagon reporters have provided vital oversight of defense spending and military decisions without needing permission from the very officials they're supposed to hold accountable.