U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that journalists at the Pentagon now need official escorts and approval to access most areas, citing operational security. The Pentagon Press Association called it a “direct attack on press freedom,” noting reporters have had open access to non-secured spaces for decades.Since Trump took office, the Pentagon has restricted media access, rotating office spaces among outlets and investigating leaks with polygraphs. Hegseth’s order also requires journalists to protect sensitive information and introduces new press credentials with stricter security measures.

Hegseth emphasized the need to protect classified intelligence to safeguard U.S. service members, balancing transparency with security.