Defense Sec. Hegseth puts new limits on press access at the Pentagon

The U.S. Protection Division is implementing new restrictions on journalists masking the Pentagon. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced the modifications in a memo Friday. The brand new insurance policies vastly restrict entry for credentialed media whereas contained in the Pentagon advanced in Arlington, Va.

The restrictions ban reporters and different media from many areas of the Pentagon until they’re accompanied by an permitted authorities escort. The restricted areas embody the workplaces of Hegseth, his high aides, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers.

Members of the press masking the U.S. navy have traditionally had entry to those newly restricted areas by way of previous Republican and Democratic presidential administrations.

Hegseth, a former FOX Information host, mentioned within the memo that the Pentagon is adopting the brand new media insurance policies to guard nationwide safety:

“Whereas the Division stays dedicated to transparency, the Division is equally obligated to guard [classified national intelligence information] and delicate info — the unauthorized disclosure of which may put the lives of U.S. Service members in peril.”

The Pentagon Press Affiliation, a company impartial from the U.S. authorities that represents journalists who cowl the navy, expressed deep concern in an announcement shared with NPR.

“There isn’t a technique to sugarcoat it,” PPA’s board of administrators mentioned within the assertion. “At this time’s memo by Secretary Hegseth seems to be a direct assault on the liberty of the press and America’s proper to know what its navy is doing.”

The Nationwide Press Membership is urging the Pentagon to swiftly reverse course. The group’s President Mike Balsamo mentioned in an announcement Friday, “Limiting entry would not shield nationwide safety. It undermines public belief.”

The restrictions are the most recent step by the White Home to restrict entry for journalists and to tightly management the information reporting of journalists masking the Trump administration. In January, the Protection Division vacated a number of main information shops from their devoted workspaces on the Pentagon, together with NPR. The next month, the White Home revoked the White Home Correspondents’ Affiliation’s capacity to resolve how media shops share protection of President Trump at main occasions the place house is restricted.

Hegseth has confronted criticism after twice sharing delicate navy plans on his personal telephone by way of the Sign messaging app. Then-Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz mistakenly included a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Journal, in one of many textual content chains.

Hegseth’s memo on the brand new restrictions says journalists shall be required to finish a type “explaining their duties” and obtain a brand new credential and badge with “clearer” press identifiers within the coming weeks. The discover says credentials shall be issued underneath “enhanced scrutiny.”

Hegseth ended the memo by saying he expects that further safety measures shall be forthcoming.