Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new ‘pledge’ for reporters at the Pentagon

['Quil Lawrence', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-09-20 09:36:30

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Andrew Harnik | Getty Images North America)The Pentagon will drastically change its rules for journalists who cover the Department of Defense, two U.S. officials who are not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to NPR Friday. Defense Secretary Hegseth puts new limits on press access at the Pentagon The Pentagon restrictions on media covering the military follow a series of moves by the Trump administration to curtail press access. Going forward, journalists must sign a pledge not to gather any information, including unclassified reports, that hasn’t been authorized for release. Writing about the shift, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media that, “The “press” does not run the Pentagon — the people do.