The Pentagon says it will require eligible journalists at the military headquarters to sign a pledge that they refrain from reporting information that is not permitted to be released, including uncategorized information.
Under the 17-page memo distributed Friday, journalists who do not adhere to the policy risk of losing their qualification to provide access to the Pentagon will tighten media restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Information, even if uncategorized, must be approved for disclosure by official public officials that have been published,” the directive states. The signature form contains an array of security requirements for the Pentagon Qualified Media.
Advocates of freedom of the press have denounced the undisclosure requirement as an attack on independent journalism. New pentagonal limits arrive as cards Expanding threats, litigation and government pressure He recreates the American media landscape.
“If news about our military must first be approved by the government, the public is no longer receiving independent reports. It said it is Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, the Associated Press’ National Law Enforcement Editor. “It should be on the alert for all Americans.”
Hegseth says more permission to “wander around the hall”
Former Fox News Channel personality Pete Hegses highlighted X’s social media posting restrictions.
“The ‘media’ doesn’t run pentagons – people do. The media is no longer permitted to roam the halls of safe facilities,” Hegses said. “Wear a badge and follow the rules, or go home.”
I have this year’s pentagon It has driven out many news organizations While imposing a series of restrictions on the media, including Prohibit reporters from entering the Pentagon’s wide area The area where press has accessed past administrations to cover the activities of the world’s most powerful military without government escorts.
pentagon I was embarrassed Editors of Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg were incorrectly included in a group chat on a signal messaging app that discussed plans for Yemen’s upcoming military strikes. Mike Waltz, Trump’s former national security adviser, took responsibility for Goldberg’s inclusion and moved on to another job.
The same was true of the Department of Defense. I’m embarrassed by the leak The New York Times said billionaire Elon Musk was to get an explanation of the US military’s plans in case a war with China breaks out. That briefing was never made on President Donald Trump’s order, and Hegses stopped two Pentagon officials as part of an investigation into how the news broke out.
Media organization applauds
On Saturday, the Association of Professional Journalists also opposed the Pentagon’s move, calling it “anxiety.”
“This policy has revived the resilience of previous restraints — the most terrible violation of freedom of the press under the First Amendment — and a dangerous step against government censorship,” he said in a statement on Saturday. “An attempt to silence news outlets under the guise of ‘security’ is part of a disturbing pattern of increasing government hostility towards transparency and democratic norms. ”
Matt Murray, executive editor of the Washington Post, said in a column in his paper on Saturday that the new policy is against what’s good for Americans.
“The Constitution protects the right of democratically elected and appointed government officials to report on the activities,” Murray said. “Efforts by the government to control messaging and access to curbs are against the First Amendment and are against the public interest.”
