Journalists covering the Pentagon now face a big new hurdle to get inside the building. To maintain access, they’ll have to sign a pledge promising not to share classified information or even some unclassified documents that aren’t clearly marked as secret. This move, which tightens control over media coverage, comes from the U.S. Department of War—formerly known as the Department of Defense—and kicks in over the next two to three weeks.
The Pentagon sent out an email to reporters on Friday, outlining the rules. Spokesperson Sean Parnell explained that anyone wanting to enter must agree to skip publishing sensitive details without proper okay from an authorizing official. Break the rules, and you could lose your building pass and access privileges.
Pentagon officials say this step protects national security. They argue that leaking unauthorized info could harm the U.S. and put Defense Department staff at risk. Parnell confirmed the changes in his email, as first reported by Politico.
Critics aren’t happy, but U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth fired back on X (formerly Twitter). “The press does not run the Pentagon, the people do,” he wrote. “The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules—or go home.”
This isn’t the first time media access has gotten stricter. Back in May, Hegseth drew fire for accidentally sharing details about U.S. strikes in Yemen in a Signal group chat that included a journalist. Since then, reporters have been limited to the press bullpen, cafeteria, and courtyard. They need an escort to go anywhere else in the building. The new pledge aims to add even more safeguards amid ongoing concerns over information security.
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