The Pentagon announced Friday that journalists will be allowed into the building of the country’s largest federal agency only if they agree not to publish certain types of information.
According to Politico, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in an evening email that reporters must sign a note pledging not to publish classified material or even some unclassified documents that are not explicitly labeled as government secrets.
The new policy is set to take effect within two to three weeks.
“[Defense Department] information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified,” the note for reporters read.
“Failure to abide by these rules may result in suspension or revocation of your building pass and loss of access,” it added.
Officials defended the move, claiming that unauthorized disclosures “pose a security risk that could damage the national security of the United States and place [Defense Department] personnel in jeopardy.”
The Pentagon Press Association said members were reviewing the directive.
The decision marks the sharpest escalation yet in the Trump administration’s push to restrict media access.
“The new rules give the Pentagon wide latitude to label journalists as security threats and revoke press passes for those who obtain or publish information that the agency says is unfit for public release,” as per the report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns in a post on X, writing: “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon - the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules - or go home.”
Until now, reporters traditionally had access to unclassified Pentagon spaces, including the offices of the Defense Secretary, joint staff, and service branches.
But earlier this year, the department removed workspaces from several major outlets - including Politico, The Washington Post, and The New York Times - replacing them with mostly conservative publications.
When news organizations protested, desks were also stripped from NBC News and CNN.
In May, Hegseth further restricted access after criticism for sharing details of US military strikes in Yemen on a Signal group that accidentally included a journalist.
Since then, reporters have been confined to press bullpens, the cafeteria, and the courtyard, with escorts required to move elsewhere in the building.