What Do the New Pentagon Press Reporting Rules Say?
Wednesday witnessed a significant event in the realm of United States military coverage. Many journalists holding Pentagon press passes chose to surrender them rather than agree to the new regulations set forth by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Notable news organizations that have declined to adhere to the new rules include major outlets like The New York Times, NBC News, and Fox News, as well as numerous smaller publications specializing in military affairs. On the other hand, a conservative cable network, One America News, has accepted the updated terms.
The new regulations impose strict limitations on access and introduce the possibility of penalties — including credential revocation — for merely seeking information on matters of public interest. Legal representatives from national news entities have been in talks with Pentagon officials for weeks regarding these restrictions.
While the old rules could fit on a single page, the new guidelines span 21 pages.
The new rules mark a significant departure — in terms of length and scope — from the previous guidelines that journalists had to agree to in order to obtain a press pass from the Pentagon. Here are some of the key differences.
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Previous Regulations
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Before Pete Hegseth’s tenure as defense secretary, journalists were required to sign a one-page document to obtain a press pass, in addition to undergoing a background check and other security measures. Here is an example of the one-page form signed by Idrees Ali, a Reuters reporter, in 2020.
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Current Regulations
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The Pentagon presents the new restrictions, outlined in this memo, as a crucial measure to prevent leaks that could jeopardize operational security and national security. However, media outlets view it as an attempt to limit First Amendment rights and question the underlying rationale of the policy. A statement from an association representing Pentagon reporters emphasizes that their members are not responsible for the situation at hand.
Monitoring Reporters
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According to sources familiar with internal discussions, Mr. Hegseth has expressed concerns about journalists moving freely in Pentagon corridors, prompting the need for stricter oversight.
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Access Rights
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Although journalists do not have a constitutional right to access government facilities like the Pentagon and the White House, legal precedents dictate that once access is granted, it cannot be arbitrarily revoked without due process.
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Identification Badges
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These red-and-white badges (refer to p. 17 of the document) will facilitate the identification of journalists within the premises. The previous badges were standard with a subtle “PRESS” label at the bottom.
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Escort Protocols
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Demanding an escort to accompany a journalist for an interview or other engagement is now a significant undertaking, with one journalist describing it as a “major request.”
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Clarification
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Initially, language in a draft of the new rules was misinterpreted as requiring news organizations to get preapproval from defense officials for their stories. This section, among others, now removes the ambiguity.
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Questioning Authority
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These sections pose significant challenges for Pentagon correspondents and their respective news organizations, as they target the language of journalistic inquiry. Journalists frequently inquire about information in various ways. The distinction between what the new policy defines as “solicitation” and a journalist simply asking, “What’s happening in the secretary’s office?” is a point of contention.
Tim Parlatore, a special adviser to Mr. Hegseth, clarifies that the restriction only applies when a journalist crosses the line by requesting defense officials to violate criminal statutes.
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