Hegseth Clamps Down on Pentagon Press Access as Military Budget Hits One Trillion

Hegseth clamps down on Pentagon press access as military budget hits one trillion

As the Trump administration pushes for a $1 trillion military budget, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has imposed unprecedented restrictions on journalists at the Pentagon, raising alarm over transparency, accountability, and the future of press freedom.

Hegseth Closes Info Spigot To Trickle For Military Reporters

Whiskey Pete Hegseth is facing intense criticism from military reporters after his office announced extra restrictions to media access at the Pentagon. Via The Independent: The Pentagon Press Association — which represents reporters covering the Department of Defense — said in a statement that the move was “a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America’s right to know what its military is doing.” Hegseth — a former Fox News host — anno…

Hegseth issues restrictions on reporter access in Pentagon

In an effort to crack down on media leaks, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a new series of restrictions on Friday that ban reporters from large areas of the Pentagon without an escort. Journalists are now permitted to be unaccompanied only in the Pentagon's main entrances and food court. Hegseth's physical office spaces and the Joint Chiefs physical office spaces will now be off-limits "without an official approval from the Office of th…

According to the US Secretary of Defense, who sparked the Signal scandal, this is the only way to prevent the leakage of classified intelligence and other sensitive military information.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order on Friday, effective immediately, further restricting the press, banning journalists from most parts of the Pentagon without an official escort or approval, Reuters reports. “While the department remains committed to transparency, it is equally committed to protecting classified intelligence and sensitive information whose unauthorized disclosure could endanger the lives of US defense personnel,”…

In the future, journalists will only be allowed to be in the Pentagon with an official escort - The measure would prevent the leakage of confidential information.