![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skynews-pentagon-washington_6864233.jpg\")
<\/p>\nJournalists at the Pentagon have been told they could be barred if they gather or report information that officials haven’t approved first.<\/p>\n
Reporters’ access to the iconic building, the headquarters of the US defence department, is also being curtailed.<\/p>\n
Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, posted on X: “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon – the people do.<\/p>\n
“The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules – or go home.”<\/p>\n
A memo announcing the changes was sent to reporters on Friday, informing them “information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified”.<\/p>\n
They must sign an agreement agreeing to the new rules or face having their press pass revoked.<\/p>\n
Journalists’ groups said it was a dangerous move that would seriously restrict their ability to hold defence officials to account.<\/p>\n
The National Press Club called it “a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the US military”.<\/p>\n
The Society of Professional Journalists said it “would deny the American people the transparency and accountability they deserve”.<\/p>\n
“This policy reeks of prior restraint – the most egregious violation of press freedom under the First Amendment – and is a dangerous step toward government censorship,” it said.<\/p>\n
“Attempts to silence the press under the guise of ‘security’ are part of a disturbing pattern of growing government hostility toward transparency and democratic norms.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Image:
\n The Pentagon is home to the newly rebranded Department of War<\/p>\n
The defence department – which recently rebranded itself as the Department of War<\/a><\/strong> – said it “remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust”.<\/p>\n However, it stated that disclosing information – even if unclassified – without consent was a potential national security risk.<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News: Spotify<\/p>\n This content is provided by Spotify, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spotify cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The first year of US President Donald Trump’s second term has seen several embarrassing episodes for the Pentagon.<\/p>\n A journalist revealed in March that he had accidentally been included on a group chat<\/a><\/strong>, which included the defence secretary and vice president, discussing plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen.<\/p>\n The Pentagon said no classified information had been shared but opponents said it showed a worryingly lax approach that could endanger US troops.<\/p>\n
US talk show hosts react to Kimmel cancellation<\/a>
Judge throws out Trump’s $15bn lawsuit against NY Times<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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