Defense Secretary Pete Hegses will listen to the incident with President Trump on Friday, May 23, 2025, to sign an executive order on the White House’s Nuclear Bureau in Washington, DC.
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Evan Vucci/AP
The US Department of Defense is implementing new restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses announced changes In Friday’s notes. The new policy significantly restricts access to certified media within the Pentagon complex in Arlington, Virginia.
The restrictions ban reporters and other media from many areas of the Pentagon, unless they have been accompanied by approved government escorts. The restricted areas include Hegses’ office, his top aide and the chairman of the co-status.
Members of the US military-covered press organizations have historically gained access to these newly restricted regions through past Republican and Democrat presidential administrations.
Former Fox News host Heggs said in a memo that the Pentagon is adopting a new media policy to protect national security.
“The department continues to be committed to transparency, but the department is obliged to equal protection. [classified national intelligence information] Sensitive Information – Unauthorized disclosure can put the lives of U.S. service members. ”
The Pentagon Press Association, an independent US government organisation representing journalists covering the military, expressed deep concern in a statement shared with NPR.
“There’s no way to sugar coat it,” the PPA’s board said in a statement. “Today’s memo by Secretary Hegses appears to be a direct attack on the freedom of the media and the American right to know what the American military is doing.”
The National Press Club is urging the Pentagon to quickly turn the course back. Organization President Mike Balsamo said In a statement on Friday“Restricting access doesn’t protect national security. It undermines the trust of the people.”
The restrictions are the latest steps by the White House to restrict access to journalists and tighten control over journalist news reports targeting the Trump administration. In January, the Department of Defense vacated several major news outlets from the Pentagon’s dedicated workspace, including NPR. The following month, the White House revoked the White House Correspondents’ Association’s ability to determine how media will share Trump’s coverage at major events with limited space.
Hegseth faces criticism after sharing two sensitive military plans on his private phone through a signal messaging app. Michael Waltz, the national security advisor at the time, mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. Editor-in-Chief of Atlantic Ocean magazineone of the text chains.
Hegseth’s note on the new restrictions states that journalists will need to fill out the form “explaining responsibility” form and receive new qualifications and badges in the coming weeks that include a “clearer” press identifier. The notification states that the credentials will be issued under “enhanced scrutiny.”
Hegseth finished the note saying he hopes additional security measures will be scheduled.
