Journalists forced to obtain approval to publish stories in new Pentagon restrictions

Published connected 21/09/2025 - 11:11 GMT+2 •Updated 11:14

The Pentagon says it will require journalists credentialed to motion a promise to refrain from reporting connected accusation that has not been authorised for release, including unclassified information.

A 17-page memo released by nan US Department of War, precocious renamed by nan Trump management from nan Department of Defence, elaborate that journalists who do not abide by nan argumentation consequence losing their credentials that supply entree to nan Pentagon.

“Information must beryllium approved for nationalist merchandise by an due authorizing charismatic earlier it is released, moreover if it is unclassified,” nan directive states.

Advocates for property freedoms denounced nan non-disclosure request arsenic an onslaught connected independent journalism. The caller Pentagon restrictions get arsenic US President Donald Trump steps up threats, lawsuits and unit arsenic he looks to reshape nan scenery of US media.

“If nan news astir our subject must first beryllium approved by nan government, past nan nationalist is nary longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see,” said Mike Balsamo, President of nan National Press Club

“That should siren each American,” he added.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted nan caller restrictions successful a societal media post, stressing that nan property “does not tally nan Pentagon, nan group do”.

He besides announced that media professionals will nary longer beryllium permitted to freely roam nan halls of nan US subject headquarters.

“The property is nary longer allowed to roam nan halls of a unafraid facility,” he noted. “Wear a badge and travel nan rules — aliases spell home.”

The restrictions travel a bid of caller leaks

The Pentagon has evicted galore news organisations this twelvemonth while imposing a bid of restrictions connected nan property that see banning reporters from entering wide swaths of nan Pentagon without a authorities escort — areas wherever nan property had entree successful past administrations arsenic it covers nan activities of nan world’s astir powerful military.

The Pentagon was embarrassed early successful Hegseth's tenure erstwhile nan editor-in-chief of US media outlet ‘The Atlantic’, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently included successful a group chat connected nan Signal messaging app wherever nan Defence caput discussed plans for upcoming subject strikes successful Yemen.

Trump’s erstwhile National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, took work for Goldberg being included and was shifted to different job.

The Defence Department was besides embarrassed by a leak to The New York Times that billionaire and erstwhile Trump aide, Elon Musk, was to get a briefing connected nan US military’s plans successful lawsuit a warfare collapsed retired pinch China.

That briefing ne'er took place, connected Trump’s orders, and Hegseth suspended 2 Pentagon officials arsenic portion of an investigation into really that news sewage out.

Media organisations onslaught back

On Saturday, nan Society of Professional Journalists besides objected to nan Pentagon's move, calling it “alarming.”

"This argumentation reeks of anterior restraint — nan astir egregious usurpation of property state nether nan First Amendment — and is simply a vulnerable measurement toward authorities censorship," it said successful a connection Saturday. "Attempts to soundlessness nan property nether nan guise of “security” are portion of a disturbing shape of increasing authorities hostility toward transparency and antiauthoritarian norms."

Executive Editor of The Washington Post, Matt Murray, said successful nan publication’s columns connected Saturday that nan caller argumentation runs antagonistic to what's bully for nan American public.

“The Constitution protects nan correct to study connected nan activities of democratically elected and appointed authorities officials,” Murray said.

“Any effort to power messaging and curb entree by nan authorities is antagonistic to nan First Amendment and against nan nationalist interest.”