Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has imposed strict new limits on press access inside the Pentagon. These changes are part of a growing trend of reduced transparency under his leadership.
In a memo issued late Friday, Hegseth banned reporters from freely accessing the hallway near his office. Journalists must now get official approval and an escort from the public affairs team to approach that area.
The Hegseth restricts press access at Pentagon rule also applies to reporters visiting public affairs offices of other military branches. Reporters are now required to be formally escorted to and from those offices.
Additionally, journalists must sign a pledge to protect “sensitive information.” Critics argue this could allow the Pentagon to revoke access over stories involving leaked documents.
These steps follow earlier restrictions, such as evicting legacy media from Pentagon workspaces. The press briefing room was also closed to reporters in a separate move earlier this year.
The memo frames the new measures as necessary for security. It claims they will reduce “inadvertent and unauthorized disclosures.” In the coming weeks, press badges will be reissued with a visible “PRESS” identifier.
However, these restrictions come amid controversy surrounding Hegseth’s own handling of sensitive information. In March, The Atlantic revealed that Hegseth and other senior Trump administration officials used an unsecured app to discuss military strikes in Yemen.
That group chat mistakenly included a journalist, exposing internal planning on a public platform. The Pentagon’s inspector general launched a review in April after reports showed Hegseth also shared strike details with his wife and brother.
Despite these actions, the Pentagon under Hegseth has grown more opaque. His spokesperson Sean Parnell had promised weekly transparency updates. However, Parnell has held only one press conference since taking office.
Instead, his deputy Kingsley Wilson has hosted briefings only for children on “Take Your Child to Work Day.” Wilson’s social media record has also come under scrutiny for sharing extremist content in the past.
Still, Parnell announced her promotion to Pentagon press secretary on Friday. He praised her leadership and said she would continue serving the Trump administration.
The Hegseth restricts press access at Pentagon policy marks another tightening of media freedom at the Defense Department.
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