Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has overhauled Pentagon media access, introducing new rules that ousted dozens of long-standing journalists from major outlets and replaced them with a new press corps composed largely of conservative and pro-Trump organizations.
The changes came alongside a memo restricting Pentagon officials’ direct communication with Congress, both moves issued on October 15. Hegseth’s new press policy requires reporters to sign an agreement barring solicitation of classified or restricted information and to comply with military discipline standards under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Major outlets, including The New York Times, Associated Press, CNN, and The Washington Post, returned their credentials in protest, calling the policy government censorship. The new press corps includes The Gateway Pundit, Just the News, Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, Human Events, LindellTV, and The National Pulse. All of which are rated far-right and questionable by Media Bias Fact Check.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the shift, saying it marks “a fresh relationship” between the department and the press. Critics, including former CNN reporter Barbara Starr, said the move undermines transparency and deprives military families of critical information.
President Trump has expressed support for the change, calling it part of an effort to promote “honest journalism.”
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
