The Pentagon has rolled out sweeping new rules that drastically tighten restrictions on journalists covering the U.S. military, requiring reporters to sign affidavits promising not to publish information unless it has been formally cleared.
Under the guidelines, issued in a memo on Friday, September 19, media organisations must agree to the new terms to keep their press credentials. Reporters must now secure explicit approval before releasing material — even if it is unclassified. The restrictions also apply to classified data and “controlled unclassified information,” which includes internal communications and operational details.
While the memo claims the Pentagon “remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust,” critics warn the measures amount to censorship. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the changes, stating on social media: “The press does not run the Pentagon — the people do. Wear a badge, follow the rules — or go home.”
Beyond publishing limits, journalists will also face tighter physical controls. They will no longer be allowed to move freely within the Pentagon and will require escorts in many areas.
The move builds on President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to exert greater control over media coverage. Trump has previously suggested that negative stories about his leadership could be “illegal,” sparking backlash from press freedom advocates.
Hegseth has also drawn criticism for mishandling sensitive military details. Earlier this year, he was faulted for sharing the timing of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen with a private Signal group that included a journalist. Reports also claim he shared classified information in another group involving his wife.
Reaction to the new rules has been sharp. A spokesperson for The New York Times, often at odds with Trump, described the policy as “yet another step in a concerning pattern of reducing access to what the U.S. military is undertaking at taxpayer expense.” Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, condemned the restrictions, warning: “If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American.”
The policy is expected to fuel heated debate in Washington over transparency, accountability, and press freedom, further escalating the tense relationship between the Trump administration and the media.
