United States: Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, issued an order on Friday requiring journalists to be accompanied by an escort in much of the Pentagon, adding to the administration’s tightening measures around media, as reported by Reuters.
Journalists Now Need Escorts Inside the Pentagon
From now on, credentialed press are not allowed inside the Department of Defense headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, unless they have official clearance.
“While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CSNI (classified intelligence) and sensitive information – the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger,” Hegseth said in a memorandum.
He described it as essential that the Department always ensures the security and secrecy of national and operational intelligence.
Press Corps Pushes Back on Restrictions
According to the Pentagon Press Association, these new rules look like a direct attempt to restrict the work of journalists.
“The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security. But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership,” the statement said.
In response to a request for comment, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said: “These updated measures are a necessary step to protect sensitive information and to keep our U.S. service members protected from preventable risks.”
Within a month of President Donald Trump returning to office in January, the Pentagon carried out an investigation that saw three officials put on leave-of-absence.
Major Media Outlets Forced Out
The arrangement has required the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and NBC News to move out of their Pentagon offices, while others such as the New York Post, Breitbart, the Daily Caller and One America News Network, have taken their place under the new system. Trump administration officials claim the aim is to give more freedom to other media members to work as resident reporters.
Reuters reported on Friday that the Trump administration has ordered lie detector tests for unclassified leaks and may fire Department of Homeland Security officials if they choose not to submit. The White House has said that Trump will not accept media leaks and that federal employees responsible should be held accountable.
Hegseth’s edict from Friday requires Pentagon press corps members to acknowledge that they must defend national intelligence and sensitive information and will be given new credentials that clearly list them as part of the press corps, as reported by Reuters.
“We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny on the issuance of (credentials),” the memo said.