USA Protest against new rules: Journalists leave Pentagon
In protest against new rules, the press corps of the US Department of Defense has almost completely left the Pentagon. The background to this is the introduction of a 21-page list of rules.
16.10.2025, 10:40
SDA
US media report unanimously. Only journalists from the pro-government broadcaster One America News were prepared to accept the new rules and continue to have access to jobs in the department, US media report.
The Republican-affiliated broadcaster Fox News, for which Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth used to work, has also refused to sign the new rules. Above all, the directive, according to which reporters can have their accreditation withdrawn if they publish information without the Pentagon's approval, even if it is not classified, has met with widespread criticism.
Members of the Pentagon press corps were required to sign a pledge of compliance by 5 p.m. local time (11 p.m. CEST) on Tuesday. After the deadline, reporters had 24 hours to turn in their accreditation badges and vacate their positions.
The major news networks CBS News, ABC News, CNN and NBC News have also refused to accept the requirements of the Department of Defense - which the US government now calls the "Department of War". The Pentagon's new requirements "restrict the ability of journalists to keep the nation and the world informed about important national security issues," the networks criticized in a joint statement with Fox News on Tuesday.
