Hegseth Puts Limits On Reporters; Pentagon Press Association Responds

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth connected Friday, May 23 announced connected X that location will beryllium caller restrictions connected journalists covering nan Pentagon. These see not allowing reporters successful definite areas of nan Pentagon they were allowed successful earlier without an escort from nan authorities and “official approval.”

“While nan Department remains committed to transparency, nan Department is arsenic obligated to protect CNSI (classified nationalist intelligence information) and delicate accusation — nan unauthorized disclosure of which could put nan lives of U.S. Service members successful danger,” Hegseth said successful a memo.

Sean Parnell, nan adjunct to nan caput of defense for nationalist affairs and main Pentagon spokesperson, said successful a connection that nan property will still person entree to “the full defense property office, nan property caput and my office, arsenic good arsenic overmuch of nan remainder of nan building.”

“These are pragmatic changes to protect operational information & yet brings nan Pentagon successful statement pinch different authorities buildings,” Parnell said.

Under nan caller property policy, journalists will not beryllium allowed successful Hegseth’s office, arsenic good arsenic nan offices of elder subject activity specified arsenic Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. In addition, reporters person to motion a shape astir protecting delicate information.

Pentagon Press Association calls memo ‘direct attack’

In a connection issued nan nighttime of Friday, May 23, nan Pentagon Press Association said “there is nary measurement to sweetener overgarment it. Today’s memo by Secretary Hegseth appears to beryllium a nonstop onslaught connected nan state of nan property and America’s correct to cognize what its subject is doing.”

“The Pentagon Press Association is highly concerned by nan determination to restrict activity of accredited journalists wrong nan Pentagon done non-secured, unclassified hallways,” nan statement said, according to nan Associated Press.

The relation reportedly tried to scope retired to Hegseth and his aides to support their “professional moving relationship” successful place, but person not been successful successful talking to him.

“Independent, fact-based reporting connected nan U.S. subject isn’t a luxury. It is simply a necessity. It keeps voters informed, strengthens antiauthoritarian oversight and sends a clear connection to nan world that America stands for openness and accountability,” National Press Club President Mike Balsamo said successful a statement. “Restricting entree doesn’t protect nationalist security. It undermines nationalist trust.”

New property restrictions travel aft leaks

These caller regulations travel leaks from nan Defense Department, including 1 to The New York Times that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was briefed connected nan United States military’s plans if a warfare happened successful China.

That briefing didn’t hap aft an bid from President Donald Trump, and Hegseth suspended 2 Pentagon officials arsenic a consequence of nan leak.

In addition, location was a March incident wherever nan editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat wherever Hegseth and different officials talked astir U.S. subject strikes successful Yemen. The Department of Defense said it will reappraisal Hegseth’s usage of Signal, arsenic Straight Arrow News antecedently reported. Former nationalist information advisor Mike Waltz was fired from his position, and Trump named him arsenic nan nominee for United Nations ambassador.

The Trump management has imposed different limits connected journalists, including blocking nan Associated Press from definite White House events.

According to nan AP, Hegseth has not spoken to property successful nan Pentagon’s briefing room, and Parnell has only had 1 briefing since Jan. 20.