Thursday, October 16, 2025-Several major U.S. media outlets have refused to comply with new Pentagon reporting rules introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The policy would require journalists to seek prior approval from Pentagon officials before publishing stories, even when based on unclassified information.
Outlets that refuse to sign risk losing press credentials and access to Pentagon briefings, prompting widespread backlash from across the media landscape.
Fox News, Hegseth’s former employer, joined CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR in rejecting the guidelines. Editors and press advocates say the policy undermines press freedom and violates First Amendment principles by giving the Department of Defense control over public information.
Only One America News Network reportedly agreed to the new terms, making it a rare outlier in a near-unified media front against the Pentagon’s move.
The Pentagon has defended the rules as necessary for safeguarding national security and ensuring “responsible” reporting. Critics counter that the policy represents one of the most restrictive measures on defense journalism in decades, warning that it could chill investigative reporting and reduce government transparency.
Legal experts predict that the dispute could escalate into a constitutional challenge if the Pentagon attempts to enforce the new restrictions against non-compliant outlets.
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