Newsrooms across the political spectrum are declining to sign the Pentagon’s new press policy, a stance that stretches from The Atlantic to Newsmax.
Several outlets, including CNN, Newsmax, The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR, have indicated they will not sign, arguing the rules go too far and could threaten access by restricting how reporters work.
Other outlets such as The Hill and NewsNation have joined the opposition, while CBS News, NBC News and Fox News have not yet stated their position publicly.
One America News Network has chosen to sign after review, according to its chief, Charles Herring.
Under the policy, information would need pre‑release approval from an appropriate official before public release, a constraint supporters say helps ensure accuracy but critics warn it would chill ordinary reporting and could lead to credential revocation for unapproved material.
Journalism groups warned that the policy sends an intimidating signal to DoD staff and threatens to punish journalists for seeking unvetted information, even if it is unclassified.
The deadline to sign was Tuesday, highlighting a clash over access and the public’s right to know how government actions are carried out.
The Times’ Richard Stevenson argued the policy threatens routine newsgathering protected by the First Amendment, suggesting it would hamper coverage of the military and related spending decisions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded with a hand‑wave emoji and said Pentagon access is a privilege, not a guaranteed right, while outlining tighter credential rules for on‑site reporting.
Journalists’ groups like the White House Correspondents’ Association and the State Department Correspondents’ Association pressed back, saying access has long served the public’s right to know and should not be sacrificed for procedural convenience.
The dispute underscores a broader tension between government transparency and newsroom protections as outlets navigate the evolving rules around Pentagon reporting.
Source: Original article
