[D66] Pentagon media blackout

[René Oudeweg]

[Pentagon media blackout]

  kpbs.org
Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the 
Pentagon
Quil Lawrence, Alana Wise
7–9 minutes
NPR

By Quil Lawrence,  Alana Wise

Published September 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM PDT
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at 
the Pentagon on June 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.

Andrew Harnik

/

Getty Images North America
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at 
the Pentagon on June 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.

Updated September 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM ET

The Pentagon will drastically change its rules for journalists who cover 
the Department of Defense, two U.S. officials who are not authorized to 
speak publicly confirmed to NPR Friday. The move drew sharp criticism 
from news organizations, who said it violated the bedrock of a free press.

Going forward, journalists must sign a pledge not to gather any 
information, including unclassified reports, that hasn't been authorized 
for release.

Using the rebranded "Department of War" acronym, "DoW," the 17-page 
document obtained by NPR outlining the new rules for the media says 
those who fail to obey the new policy will lose their press credentials 
— cutting off access to the headquarters of the largest department in 
the U.S. government.

"DoW remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and 
public trust," the document said. "However, DoW information must be 
approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official 
before it is released, even if it is unclassified."

According to the document, journalists who report on news outside of the 
explicit commands of the Pentagon could be deemed "a security or safety 
risk" and have their credentials stripped.

Writing about the shift, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Friday on 
social media that, "The 'press' does not run the Pentagon — the people do."

Earlier this year, Hegseth announced new rules limiting reporters' 
ability to move freely through the Pentagon without an approved escort — 
a change that broke years of tradition of both Democratic and Republican 
administrations.

"The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. 
Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home," Hegseth wrote in the 
Friday tweet.

These new restrictions fall in line with the broader policy of the Trump 
administration to attempt to limit coverage from outlets who President 
Trump has deemed unfair.

Hegseth's decision was quickly and sharply derided by members of the 
media and proponents of a free press, who noted that pre-approval of 
reportable material would limit the ability of reporters to provide 
vital news to the public about America's military.

"This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place 
where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military," National 
Press Club President Mike Balsamo said in a statement.

"For generations, Pentagon reporters have provided the public with vital 
information about how wars are fought, how defense dollars are spent, 
and how decisions are made that put American lives at risk. That work 
has only been possible because reporters could seek out facts without 
needing government permission."

The Pentagon Press Association said it was aware of the new policy and 
was in the process of reviewing it.

Thomas Evans, NPR's editor-in-chief, said: "NPR is taking this very 
seriously. We'll be working with other news organizations to push back. 
We're big fans of the 1st Amendment and transparency and we want the 
American public to understand what's being done in their name."

Disclosure: This story was written and reported by NPR Correspondents 
Quil Lawrence, Alana Wise and David Folkenflik. It was edited by Senior 
Editor Avie Schneider, Editor Miguel Macias and Deputy Managing Editor 
Jim Kane. Under NPR's protocol for covering itself, no news executive or 
corporate official reviewed the story before it was posted publicly.

NPR's David Folkenflik contributed reporting.

Copyright 2025 NPR

Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering 
veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his 
coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female 
combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America 
honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.