Pentagon: No pre-publication approval required for journalists

The US Defenсe Department on October 6 revised its restrictions on press access to the Pentagon, loosening rules after more than two weeks of negotiations with national news organisations. 

The updated policy clarifies that journalists with Pentagon credentials “are not required to submit their writings” to the department before publication, addressing earlier concerns that the original draft had imposed such approval requirements, the New York Times writes. 

The new rules do, however, outline circumstances under which reporters could be deemed “security risks” and have their credentials revoked. News organisations have a week to review and sign the policy, with failure to do so potentially resulting in loss of Pentagon access. 

By signing, reporters acknowledge the rules “even if I do not necessarily agree with such policies and procedures.”

The original draft came amid a series of press restrictions and reprisals under the Trump administration, including workspace removals for outlets such as The New York Times, NBC News, Politico, and NPR. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has limited reporters’ movement inside the Pentagon, stating in a recent social media post, “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.”

The revised draft protects constitutionally protected journalistic activities but warns that “solicitation or encouragement of government officials to ‘violate the laws and policies concerning the disclosure of such information’” could result in being labeled a security risk.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell accused the “mainstream media” of “misrepresenting” the procedures, emphasising that the approval requirement applies only to government employees, not journalists. 

“I trust that these clarifications address your concerns and confirm that the in-brief does not infringe upon First Amendment protections,” he wrote.

By Sabina Mammadli