About fifty journalists left the Pentagon en masse this Wednesday, returning their credentials and emptying their offices.
The reason? The imposition of new rules by the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth -now officially "Secretary of War" following an executive order from Donald Trump- which condition journalistic practice on prior government approval.
The journalism response was unanimous: a resounding rejection.
"What is at stake is government transparency, public accountability, and freedom of expression for all," warned the Pentagon Press Association (PPA), which represents over a hundred professionals from 56 media outlets.
The scene was eloquent: reporters with boxes carrying their personal and work belongings leaving the building together shortly before 4:00 p.m. (local time) this Wednesday, the deadline imposed to accept the new information regime or renounce access.
The new rules
The regulations state that journalists are not permitted to seek information or publish leaks -whether classified or not- that have not been previously approved by the Secretary of War.
Although they do not explicitly prohibit coverage, they do warn that those who request data without authorization could be considered a security threat.
In the words of reporter Tom Bowman (NPR), this is a policy “that silences Pentagon employees” and forces journalists to “accept the official version as the only truth.”
“It doesn't make sense to sign rules that say we shouldn't ask for information from officials,” declared Nancy Youssef, correspondent for The Atlantic since 2007.
"To accept not asking for information is to accept not being a journalist. Our main objective is to seek information," he added.
The Pentagon, for its part, defends the measures as a way to protect the troops and safeguard national security.
"It is the best for our troops," assured spokesperson Sean Parnell, while Hegseth accused the media of "playing the victim" and "stealing classified information."
A broad rejection that even includes pro-Trump media
The novelty of the moment lies not only in the measure itself but also in the unified response of the press.
From The New York Times, AP, Reuters, The Washington Post to Fox News and Newsmax, all refused to sign the document.
Only One America News Network -an ultra-conservative media outlet aligned with Trump- accepted the terms.
Even the network where Hegseth was an anchor, Fox News, issued a joint statement with ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN stating that “this policy is unprecedented and threatens the fundamental protections of journalism.”
The measure leaves the Pentagon without the physical presence of any major media outlet in its facilities for the first time since the Dwight Eisenhower administration.
Even so, the coverage will continue.
"The credential is gone, the work continues", wrote Dan Lamothe, reporter for the Washington Post, as Heather Mongillo (USNINews) proudly recalled her photo on the correspondents' wall.
A press determined to resist... from a distance
The Pentagon Press Association denounced that this policy represents an implicit threat to criminalize information about national security and subject the signatories to potential reprisals.
In practice, it restricts access, eliminates routine press conferences, and impoverishes the flow of information.
Jack Keane, retired general and analyst at Fox, summed it up succinctly: “What they are really doing is trying to spoon-feed information to the journalist. That is not journalism.”
Experience was also felt. Martha Raddatz (ABC News), who has covered wars for more than 30 years, shared on social media her farewell to the Pentagon with a mix of sadness and determination.
"This is the memory I wanted to take with me when I left the building," he/she wrote.
Meanwhile, reporter Barbara Starr was adamant: “No one voted to limit Americans' right to know what their military is doing.”
The institutional hostility towards the media
Donald Trump fully supported the measure. "The press is very disruptive in terms of world peace," he stated, describing journalists as "very dishonest."
His administration has already fought legal battles with media outlets such as CBS News, The New York Times, ABC News, and AP, and has promoted a continuous narrative of delegitimization against the press.
In September, his government formally approved the change of title from Secretary of Defense to Secretary of War, marking a symbolic break with the civil tradition of the Armed Forces.
At the same time, the media policy imposed by Hegseth is regarded as part of a broader strategy of opacity and narrative control, in line with the authoritarian tendencies of the administration.
According to Reporters Without Borders, the United States ranks 57th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.
"Trust in the media is collapsing, reporters are facing increasing hostility, and many local outlets are disappearing," the report warns.
"Trump also terminated federal funding for the Global Media Agency, severely impacting the international news landscape."
Journalism does not give up
Despite institutional hostility, journalists refuse to back down.
"They knew that the American people deserved to know what was happening," wrote Tom Bowman about his sources within the Pentagon.
"Without reporters capable of asking questions, the Pentagon's leadership will continue to rely on orchestrated publications and interviews with partisan podcasters. No one should believe that this is sufficient."
In a country founded on freedom of expression, the media has risen, not for a corporate battle, but in defense of the citizen's right to know what their government is doing.
"The press does not only inform. It is the bridge between the people and their army. Removing that bridge is to isolate the truth," stated former spokesperson Pete Williams.
Frequently asked questions about the restriction on journalists at the Pentagon and the press response
Why did journalists leave the Pentagon en masse?
Journalists mass exited the Pentagon due to the enforcement of new rules that condition journalistic activity on prior government approval. The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, now referred to as the "Secretary of War," implemented these restrictions, which journalists view as a threat to freedom of expression and government transparency.
What are the new restrictions imposed by the Pentagon on journalists?
The new restrictions imposed by the Pentagon stipulate that journalists cannot request information or publish leaks that have not been previously approved by the Secretary of War. These rules could consider journalists who request information without authorization as a security threat, significantly limiting independent coverage.
How has the press responded to the Pentagon's restrictions?
The response from the press has been a unanimous rejection of the Pentagon's restrictions, with most media outlets, including some pro-Trump, refusing to sign the document that imposes these conditions. The Pentagon Press Association condemned the policy as a threat to freedom of expression and the public's right to know what their government is doing.
What are the consequences of journalists' lack of access to the Pentagon?
The lack of access for journalists to the Pentagon limits transparency and the flow of information, as routine press conferences are eliminated and coverage on national security issues suffers. This situation could lead to a reliance on official sources without questioning, which undermines the quality of journalism and the public's right to accurate information.
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