Dozens of journalists left the Pentagon on Wednesday after refusing to comply with new government restrictions on their reporting. The rules, imposed by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, require journalists to seek approval before reporting on any information, classified or not, which could lead to their expulsion if violated.
Upon the 4 p.m. ET deadline set by the Defence Department, around 40 to 50 reporters handed in their badges and left the building together. Nancy Youssef, a long-time Pentagon reporter for The Atlantic, expressed pride in the press corps for standing united against the new rules.
Despite the mass exodus, news organizations remain committed to covering military affairs thoroughly. President Donald Trump, who has criticized the press as disruptive and dishonest, supported Hegseth’s media policy, which aims to control the flow of information and restrict journalists’ access.
Journalists have criticized the new rules as an attempt to control the narrative and limit their ability to gather information independently. They vowed to continue reporting on military matters, emphasizing the importance of their role in informing the public.
While most major news outlets rejected the new rules, One America News Network (OANN) was the only one to comply, likely seeking closer ties with the Trump administration. The Pentagon Press Association, representing various news outlets, has denounced the restrictions, highlighting the importance of a free press in a democracy.
Despite the challenges posed by the new regulations, journalists remain determined to fulfill their duty of informing the public and holding those in power accountable.