US news outlets, including MAGA channel, refuse to sign Pentagon’s new press access rules: All you need to know | World News

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi look on. (AP Photo)

Several leading news organisations, including New York Times, Associated Press and conservative pro-Trump channel Newsmax network on Monday objected to a US Defence Department’s new policy that requires them to pledge they will not obtain unauthorised materials and reporters movement would be restricted to certain areas in the Pentagon unless accompanied an official.

The policy that was presented Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth last month has received criticism from across the media aisle and a deadline has been set for news organisations to sign the decree Tuesday at 5 pm or have 24 hours to turn in their press credentials, meaning the Trump adminration would evict their reporters from Pentagon.
Story continues below this ad

Among other news outlets that joined the group in not signing the policy, includes The Washington Post, The Atlantic and Reuters. The news outlets argue that the defence department’s policy tends to punish them for regular news collection that is protected the First Amendment.

Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right. So, here is @DeptofWar press credentialing FOR DUMMIES:✅ Press no longer roams free✅ Press must wear visible badge✅ Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal actsDONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every…— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025

A statement released Reuters said, “We also steadfastly believe in the press protections afforded the US Constitution, the unrestricted flow of information and journalism that serves the public interest without fear or favor. The Pentagon’s new restrictions erode these fundamental values.”

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reacted to New York Times’ statement on X adding a hand waving emoji. Hegseth’s team has said that reporters who don’t acknowledge the policy in writing Tuesday, must return their press badges required to enter the Pentagon and clear out their work spaces as well, AP reported.

A body that represents beat reporters, the Pentagon Press Association, also criticised the new defence department policy, stating that the decree gags Pentagon employees and threatens retaliation against reporters who are looking to gather information that has not been pre-approved the department.

Newsmax, whose journals have generally been supportive of President Donald Trump’s adminration, has also said that the requirements made the defence department is “unnecessary” and that the Pentagon “will review the matter further”.

Defending the move, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the rules establish common sense media procedures. “The policy does not ask for them to agree, just to acknowledge that they understand what our policy is,” Parnell added.

(with inputs from AP)