Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules
Key Takeaways
- Dozens of reporters surrendered their Pentagon access badges in protest of new government-imposed reporting restrictions.
- The new rules, set by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, threatened journalists with expulsion for reporting unapproved information.
- News organizations overwhelmingly rejected the restrictions, viewing them as an attempt to spoon-feed information rather than allow independent journalism.
- President Trump publicly backed Hegseth's decision, criticizing the press as dishonest and disruptive.
- Journalists stated that agreeing to rules preventing them from soliciting information is fundamentally agreeing to stop being journalists.
Dozens of reporters turned in their access badges and left the Pentagon on Wednesday to protest new government restrictions on their work, moving them further from the seat of military power. The new rules, imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, would allow for journalists' expulsion if they reported on unapproved information, leading news outlets to reject them unanimously. Many reporters left together after a 4 p.m. deadline, carrying their belongings out of their suddenly abandoned workspaces. Reporter Nancy Youssef noted the press corps stuck together despite the sadness of the situation. President Trump supported the rules, calling the press "very dishonest" and "disruptive to world peace." Journalists argue the rules, which include signing a document acknowledging the restrictions, prevent them from soliciting information, which is the core function of their job.
