For Pete Hegseth, these new measures are a matter of “common sense”, considering that signing the document means that journalists recognize the rules, not that they agree with them.
These new measures are part of a broader offensive, carried out since Donald Trump’s return to power, restricting journalists’ access to the Pentagon.
In previous months, the Department of Defense – recently renamed by the Trump administration as the Department of War – did away with offices dedicated to the media in the Pentagon, thus expelling some media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN.
Press conferences have been drastically reduced: fewer than six have been held since the beginning of the year, compared to at least two per week on average under Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency.
The department also restricted journalists’ movements within the Pentagon, requiring them to be escorted outside a limited number of zones.
In April, Pete Hegseth, the Minister of Defense and former Fox News presenter, was involved in a breach of confidentiality regarding military plans, when a journalist was mistakenly added to a group he was a member of on the Signal messaging application.
These new measures are part of a broader offensive, carried out since Donald Trump’s return to power, restricting journalists’ access to the Pentagon.
In previous months, the Department of Defense – recently renamed by the Trump administration as the Department of War – did away with offices dedicated to the media in the Pentagon, thus expelling some media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN.
Press conferences have been drastically reduced: fewer than six have been held since the beginning of the year, compared to at least two per week on average under Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency.
The department also restricted journalists’ movements within the Pentagon, requiring them to be escorted outside a limited number of zones.
In April, Pete Hegseth, the Minister of Defense and former Fox News presenter, was involved in a breach of confidentiality regarding military plans, when a journalist was mistakenly added to a group he was a member of on the Signal messaging application.