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In the United States, Donald Trump’s administration has introduced new strict rules for journalists to work in the Pentagon building, which has caused outrage from the press. According to Reuters, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hagel signed an order restricting media access to most of the Ministry of Defence’s facilities in Washington.
From now on, accredited journalists can only enter the building if accompanied by an official representative and with a special permit. The document emphasises that these measures are aimed at protecting classified and sensitive information that “could endanger the lives of the military”.
“While the Department remains committed to transparency, it has an unquestionable duty to protect national secrets and operational security,” Hagseth said in a memo.
It is also expected to introduce new restrictions on the issuance of accreditations and strengthen the system of control over the presence of journalists.
The press sounds the alarm
The Pentagon Press Association has described the new rules as a “direct attack on freedom of speech”. The statement noted that over the past decades, even after the 9/11 attacks, the media had free access to unclassified areas without any security threats.
“Under the pretext of operational security, the government is restricting the ability of the independent press,” the Association said in a statement.
The Pentagon has not yet commented on the journalistic community’s statement.
Since the return of Donald Trump to the presidency in January 2025, the US Department of Defence has initiated a large-scale investigation into information leaks. Three officials have been suspended. In addition, traditional media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and NBC News were forced to vacate their offices in the Pentagon building. Instead, new media outlets, most of which are loyal to the Trump administration, such as Breitbart, Daily Caller, and One America News Network, were granted access.
The official version is “expanding opportunities for new media”, but critics see this as an attempt to influence the country’s information field.
