Reporters for nearly every major outlet left the Pentagon on Wednesday after refusing to sign new Trump administration press restrictions. By a 4 p.m. deadline, journalists turned in badges as the policy sought to bar unapproved information-gathering, even for unclassified material. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the rules, while falsely claiming reporters once roamed the complex without badges. Only One America News Network agreed to the terms; Fox News, the AP, PBS, major networks and the Wall Street Journal declined. The Pentagon Press Association decried badge confiscations as a dark day for press freedom.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.