US news outlets refuse to sign new Pentagon rules to report only official information
Defense department policy requires outlets to vow not to obtain unauthorized files and restricts access to some areas
Edward Helmore
Mon 13 Oct 2025 17.33 EDT
Several leading news organizations with access to Pentagon briefings have formally said they will not agree to a new defense department policy that requires them to pledge they will not obtain unauthorized material and restricts access to certain areas unless accompanied by an official.
The policy, presented last month by the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has been widely criticized by media organizations asked to sign the pledge by Tuesday at 5pm or have 24 hours to turn in their press credentials.
The move follows a shake-up in February in which long-credentialed media outlets were required to vacate assigned workspaces which was cast as an “annual media rotation program”. A similar plan was presented at the White House where some briefing room spots were given to podcasters and other representatives of non-traditional media.
Pentagon demands journalists sign pledge not to gather certain information
On Monday, the Washington Post joined the New York Times, CNN, the Atlantic, the Guardian, Reuters, the Associated Press, NPR, HuffPost and trade publication Breaking Defense in saying it would not sign on to the agreement.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/13/defense-department-media-news-rules
