Recently, a new press policy was introduced within the Pentagon by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This new policy would require reporters to swear a pledge not to spread unauthorized information, even if the information is not classified, or risk losing their access.
In response to this new policy, almost all reporters have walked out of the Pentagon together shortly before the deadline set for those who would not agree. It is estimated that around 40 reporters handed over their access badges. Many have stated that this is a violation of their First Amendment rights to agree, restricting their freedom of speech.
Jack Keane, a former U.S Army general, said the following regarding the situation, “What they’re really doing, they want to spoon-feed information to the journalist, and that would be their story. That’s not journalism,”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called this new policy a “common sense” measure. President Donald Trump has put his support behind Pete Hegseth’s new policy, saying that the press is “very dishonest” and that the new rules were required.
Many of the reporters who have left the Pentagon have vowed that they will continue to report on military information and actions, regardless of the cooperation of the Pentagon.
Only one outlet seems to have stayed and accepted the new policy, that outlet being One America News Network. Unless others decide to accept the terms, they will be the only ones who receive information from within the Pentagon officially going forward, a monopoly of information.
Personally, I think that they should walk back the restrictions and allow for complete press coverage once more, but that is just me.
