Washington: The Trump administration has introduced a new set of restrictions limiting journalist access to the Pentagon, as part of a broader effort to tighten operational security and clamp down on leaks within the Department of Defense.
On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive mandating that credentialed journalists must now be escorted by officials to access most areas of the Pentagon’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The changes take effect immediately.
“While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CSNI (classified intelligence) and sensitive information — the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger,” Hegseth said in a memorandum.
He emphasized that safeguarding classified national intelligence and operational security is “an unwavering imperative for the Department.”
The newly announced measures also include a revamp of Pentagon press credentials, which will now more prominently identify individuals as members of the press. Additionally, reporters will be asked to formally acknowledge their duty to protect sensitive and classified information.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the U.S. military, issued a strong response, warning that the decision “appeared to be a direct attack on the freedom of the press.”
“The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security. But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership,” the association stated.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment on the association’s remarks.
Since President Donald Trump’s return to office in January, the administration has intensified efforts to prevent leaks. This includes launching a Pentagon-led internal investigation, which has so far placed three officials on administrative leave.
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In another significant move, the administration instituted a rotation system that required legacy media outlets — including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NBC News — to vacate their on-site Pentagon offices. These outlets were replaced by organizations considered more sympathetic to the Trump administration, such as The New York Post, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, and One America News Network. The White House has defended the move, citing a desire to give broader media representation within the Pentagon press corps.
Moreover, the administration has expanded the use of polygraph tests in leak investigations. According to a Reuters report, some Department of Homeland Security personnel have been informed that refusal to take a lie detector test could result in termination. The White House maintains that President Trump views unauthorized disclosures as serious violations of trust and believes those responsible must be held accountable.
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Secretary Hegseth’s memo also hinted at further security enhancements to come, including additional scrutiny around the press credentialing process.
“We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny on the issuance of (credentials),” the memo said.
