Pentagon Restricts Press Access, Faces Backlash | JQJO

New Pentagon rules sharply restrict reporting, prompting backlash from major news outlets. The policy, requiring reporters to pledge not to use unauthorized material, is seen as a violation of the First Amendment. Several news organizations, including CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, publicly criticized the restrictions, foreshadowing potential legal challenges. The policy has already resulted in some news outlets being removed from Pentagon workspaces. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the rules, some Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced concerns, with one Republican calling the policy "dumb."