2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture

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On October 16, 2025 a number of news organizations that cover the United States Department of Defense from its headquarters, The Pentagon, choose to forfeit their press passes rather than agree to new reporting rules. [1]

Contents

All but one publication forfeited their press credentials upon receiving new directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stating that reporters were only allowed to cover pre-approved news. "The new requirements were rejected by all but one outlet that regularly covers the Pentagon, including ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, The Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg News, The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian , [2] The Atlantic , The Washington Times , Financial Times , Politico , and NPR." [3] One America News said that it would sign the agreement to cover only pre-approved news, and remain in the building. [4]

Background

In May 2025, the United States Department of Defense released a memo [5] to resident and visiting press assigned to the Pentagon.

In October 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implemented new press policies with a series of changes that led to multiple news outlets turning in their press credentials, most citing one key rule which places a ban on reporters soliciting any information, classified or otherwise, from government employees without prior authorization from the Pentagon.

The Pentagon called the new press restrictions an important step in “preventing leaks that damage operational security and national security.” Press outlets see the new restrictions as an "attempt to curb First Amendment protections." [6]

Lawyers for national news outlets had been negotiating with the Pentagon for weeks over the policy prior to the mass forfeiture, with The New York Times reporting that the new rules "are a stark departure — in length and scope — from the previous guidelines the Pentagon required journalists to sign to obtain a press pass." [6]

Developments and backlash

Defense trade media, Military Times and Defense News joined other media outlets in the forfeiture, releasing the following statement: "This policy threatens to punish reporters who ask legitimate questions in the course of their daily work and to impose material harm on our news organizations for factual reporting." [7]

Only 15 reporters singed and accepted the new press policy out of hundreds that forfeited their credentials. Those 15 include: The Federalist, the Epoch Times and One America News, reporters working for overseas media outlets, independent reporters and freelancers. [8]

Vacating the press room

Media outlets who refused to accept the new policies were given until Friday, October 17, 2025 to remove their belongings. On October 15, 2025 reporters began vacating the press room at the Pentagon removing computer servers, furniture, Television screens, soundproofing equipment and other items. [9]

References

  1. ↑ Bauder, David (October 15, 2025). "Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules". AP News. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Margaret (October 15, 2025). "Pete Hegseth's attempt to gag journalism is a resounding failure". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "Pentagon Reporters from All but 1 Outlet Surrender Press Passes After Trump Admin Demanded They Only Cover Pre-Approved News". People.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ Barr, Jeremy (October 15, 2025). "Pentagon reporters have now turned in their badges – but plan to keep reporting". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Wemple, Erik (October 16, 2025). "What Do the New Pentagon Press Reporting Rules Say?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ Staff (October 15, 2025). "Defense trade press statement on media restrictions at the Pentagon". Military Times. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Hundreds of people cover the Pentagon. These are the 15 who signed its new press policy". The Washington Post. October 16, 2025. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ Coster, Helen (October 15, 2025). "Pentagon journalists vacate workspace as new restrictions take effect". Reuters .
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