News outlets broadly reject Pentagon's new press rules

Two conservative newsrooms — Newsmax and the Washington Times — so far have joined a slew of national news organizations in refusing to sign an agreement with the Pentagon that could limit journalists' rights to gather or report information not officially authorized for release.Why it matters: Press freedom groups have decried the Pentagon's new media restrictions, arguing they appear "designed to stifle a free press and potentially expose us to prosecution for simply doing our jobs," per the Pentagon Press Association.Catch up quick: The Pentagon unveiled new restrictions last month and said reporters would need to sign a pledge committing to its rules in order to maintain their press credentials. Last week, the Pentagon relaxed some of those measures after several weeks of negotiating with news organizations and press groups. The new rules clarify that journalists are not required to "submit their writings" to the department before publication, but threatened to possibly revoke their press credentials if they don't sign the policy. Journalists have until 5pm Tuesday to decide whether to sign the pledge."Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a post on X Monday. Zoom in: Over the past few days, editors from major news organizations have released statements explaining why their reporters will not be signing the pledge. The Washington Post: "The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information," executive editor Matt Murray said in a statement Monday. "We will continue to vigorously and fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon and officials across the government."The Atlantic: "We fundamentally oppose the restrictions that the Trump administration is imposing on journalists who are reporting on matters of defense and national security," editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement Monday. "The requirements violate our First Amendment rights, and the rights of Americans who seek to know how taxpayer-funded military resources and personnel are being deployed. We will continue to cover matters of defense, war, and national security independently and fairly."The Guardian "will decline to sign the revised Pentagon press pass policy because it places unacceptable restrictions on activities protected by the First Amendment," a spokesperson told Axios Monday.The Wall Street Journal remains "concerned with the Pentagon's new press rules and requirements, and our reporters will not be signing them in their current form," a spokesperson told Axios Monday.NPR "will never be party to limitations on the independence of the press and the objective, fact-based reporting of our journalists," editor-in-chief Thomas Evans said in a statement Monday. "We will not sign the Administration's restrictive policy that asks reporters to undermine their commitment of providing trustworthy, independent journalism to the American public."Reuters "is bound by its commitment to accurate, impartial and independent news under the Thompson Reuters Trust Principles," a spokesperson told Axios Sunday. "We also steadfastly believe in the press protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution, the unrestricted flow of information and journalism that serves the public interest without fear or favor. The Pentagon's new restrictions erode these fundamental values. Therefore, our journalists will not sign the revised press pass policy."Newsmax "has no plans to sign the letter," a spokesperson told Axios Sunday. "We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further."New York Times journalists "will not sign the Pentagon's revised press policy, which threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment," Washington bureau chief Richard Stevenson said in a statement Friday. "Since the policy was first announced, we have expressed concerns that it constrains how journalists can report on the U.S. military, which is funded by $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars annually. The public has a right to know how the government and military are operating. The Times is dedicated to pursuing the public interest through deep, fair reporting and an unwavering pursuit of the facts."Axios and Associated Press journalists will not be signing the pledge, spokespeople from both outlets confirmed to Axios. Washington Times executive editor and president Christopher Dolan, confirmed to the Washington Post that its reporters would not be signing the pledge.Between the lines: It's not the first time conservative outlets have supported their broader media peers in a fight for press freedoms. Newsmax and Fox News notably signed a letter to the White House in February urging it to rescind a ban against AP reporters. The big picture: These new press rules are part of a broader effort to put a tighter lid on the information that comes out of the Pentagon.Hegseth in a memo last month cemented restrictions on when, where and how the military and Pentagon leaders can engage with the public, noting that past "external engagements have tended to canalize toward certain types of institutions."The Defense Department in February replaced the press offices of several mainstream organizations with mostly conservative outlets.It informed several outlets — including NPR, NBC News, Politico and CNN — that they had to move out of their workspaces at the Correspondents' Corridor in the Pentagon, although their press credentials would remain intact.They were replaced by mostly conservative outlets such as Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, Newsmax and others under a new rotation system.What to watch: So far only one outlet, the conservative cable network One America News (OAN), has indicated that it plans to sign the pledge.

Comments

World news

Independent

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

about 1 hour ago

Ukraine cannot win against Russia, warns top British army chief

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Susan Stamberg, first woman to host national news program, dies age 87

Australia news live: Ley challenges Albanese over Trump meeting; storm warning for Sydney

CBS News head of standards quits just a week after Bari Weiss is named editor-in-chief

During troubled times in news industry, 168-year-old Atlantic thrives with newspaper-magazine hybrid

Fox News host Will Cain warns that Mamdani is a ‘threat to Western civilization’ — right after network’s big interview

NBC News cuts teams dedicated to LGBTQ+, Black and Latino community reporting

Italian news publishers demand investigation into Google’s AI Overviews

News Corp told by Liberal MP that allegations about Sam Groth and wife were ‘political hit job’, couple’s lawyers say

Some good news on obesity — but with major caveats

‘Gruesome videos’: social media pushes distressing news to children, experts say

‘He may be watching’: Mamdani on Fox News speaks directly to Trump

Australia news live: HSC exams start across NSW high schools; ADF personnel in ‘incident’ near Townsville

The View applauds Fox News and Newsmax for refusing to sign Hegseth’s media restrictions: ‘Freedom of the press is an American issue’

Donald Trump has the right to determine which cities are safe for the World Cup, FIFA tells Sky News

Inter-Arab security force should be set up 'within weeks' to stop Hamas retaking Gaza, ex-Israeli PM tells Sky News

‘This is bad news’: Australian tropical rainforest trees switch in world first from carbon sink to emissions source

GB News viewers more likely to wrongly believe net migration to UK rising, study finds

Trump aides worry that he is making decisions to be favored on cable news: ‘It’s not OK’

'Without precedent': Virtually all news outlets reject restrictive Pentagon press policy

News live: Paterson warns Liberals to end ‘apology tour’; IMF predicts slows growth for Australian economy

World news

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

Ukraine cannot win against Russia, warns top British army chief

Can you actually fool AI to push your resume to the top of the pile?

US treasury secretary and Chinese vice premier plan another meet over ‘unsustainable’ tariff hike

Boy’s prosthetic eye shows love for Jays

One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew

Investigation launched after budget airline jet almost dives into ocean moments after takeoff

Heightened sense of urgency around this 'No Kings Day'

Man fakes his own funeral ‘to see who shows up and how much they care’

Cruz Beckham is the unlikely anti-nepo baby

Novak Djokovic could not be more wrong about padel

Trump’s Zelensky meeting confirms one thing: Putin is leading negotiations

From EVs to Heathrow – China’s extraordinary grip on UK infrastructure

Why the release of Israeli hostage bodies could yet derail Trump’s peace deal

Seven easy ways to supercharge your diet – without overhauling it

Bernie-backed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner melts down

Chinese Nobel Prize-winning physicist Chen Ning Yang dies at 103

SeaWorld trainer butchered by killer whale who turned 'psychotic' in captivity

Moment Ukraine destroys Putin's floating bomb as Russia launches fresh attacks

Man living with dead mum in flat he'd not left for eight years

Skeletons found in mass grave are ancient Roman soldiers, study finds

'It's a joyous moment' - Brother of Prince Andrew accuser

National Guard activated ahead of No Kings protests planned across US

Smuggler jailed for 40 years after shipping ballistic missile parts from Iran

Ontario Psychologists Clash Over How Much Training Is Enough

A Popular Afghan Singer Challenges the Taliban With Song

The Kids Who Sued Trump Just Lost Big in Court. Or Did They?

Carter interception, TD run key in Lions’ win

Israel identifies remains of another hostage handed over by Hamas

Kremlin pitches £6,000,000,000 ‘peace bridge’ between Russia and America

Harper Lee’s short stories are charming – but what if she never wanted them published?

The five best poetry books of all time, according to Hollie McNish

Afghan and Pakistani delegations head to Doha for crisis talks

'I was forced to watch my wife be gang raped by seven men - it was three hours of hell'

Budget airliner hurtles towards sea at 300mph seconds after take off

Skeletal woman 'locked in bedroom for 27 YEARS' utters three chilling words when found

Where the 'most beautiful girl in world' is now after viral fame and controversy

Chinese Nobel laureate and physicist Chen Ning Yang dies aged 103

Ohtani rewrites history to send Dodgers to World Series

After Zelenskyy meeting, Trump calls on Ukraine and Russia to 'stop where they are' and end the war

Lions win fifth straight, eliminate Elks

The China spy case debacle shows governments have few secrets worth knowing

I’m a tour guide – banning loudspeakers can’t come soon enough

How to save your soil after the dry summer, according to an RHS expert

Gen Z protests against corruption and inequality are shaking Morocco. Here's what to know

Heavy security after deadly violence in Kenya as thousands turn out to mourn former PM Odinga

Mexican artisans turn clay into Trees of Life that are celebrated worldwide

Deadly floods in Mexico another sign of need for improved severe weather warnings

Hamas returns remains of 10th Israeli hostage from Gaza

The female scientists who finally found an answer to endometriosis wait times

‘We’re not communists’: One club’s fight for English rugby’s soul

I moved to the Tuscan village that pays people €20k to live there

Three easy and flavourful Indian recipes, including creamy chicken curry

Stephen Mangan: ‘We don’t live for ever – my mum’s death taught me that when I was young’

I’m 69 and struggling to pay bills – I was cheated when my pension was frozen

Reeves is doom and gloom but her messy Budget may be ‘hated’ Starmer’s only hope

The 14 best new children’s books for autumn 2025