Media Outlets, Including Newsmax, Refuse Pentagon’s New Press Access Rules

Arlington, Virginia — October 2025:
A major confrontation is unfolding between the U.S. Department of Defense and leading news organizations. The Pentagon has issued an ultimatum to beat reporters: sign its newly implemented, restrictive press access rules by Tuesday or lose credentials to enter the Pentagon by Wednesday.

Dozens of prominent media outlets — including CNN, Reuters, The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and Newsmax — have refused to comply, calling the rules a threat to press freedom.

Pentagon Press Association Pushes Back

The Pentagon Press Association (PPA), which represents journalists covering the Defense Department, denounced the move as an effort to muzzle both reporters and Pentagon employees.
The new rules, championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, allegedly “gag Pentagon employees and threaten retaliation against reporters who seek information not pre-approved for release,” according to a statement released Monday.

The association warned that the policy could result in the expulsion of reporters from the Pentagon complex — a development that would disrupt decades of open, on-site coverage of U.S. military affairs.

Despite the potential loss of access, several newsroom leaders say they will continue covering the U.S. military independently, using alternative methods to obtain information and verify sources.

Major Outlets Decline to Sign

Representatives from CNN, Reuters, AP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and NPR have all confirmed that their reporters will not sign the Pentagon’s revised credentialing paperwork.

“We view these requirements as unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information,” said Matt Murray, executive editor of The Washington Post.

Legal teams across several media companies are reportedly considering legal action against the Department of Defense, arguing that the new language could violate the First Amendment and restrict the free press from performing its watchdog role.

Even Conservative Outlets Object

In a surprising twist, even some conservative and pro-Trump outlets have sided with mainstream media on this issue.
Newsmax, known for its alignment with the MAGA movement, announced it would not sign the new agreement, calling the Pentagon’s demands “unnecessary and onerous.”

“We hope the Pentagon will review the matter further,” Newsmax said in a statement Monday.

Fox News, where Hegseth previously worked as a host for nearly a decade, has not yet commented on the dispute.

Escalating Tensions Under Pete Hegseth

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and outspoken critic of the mainstream media, has reportedly tightened press access throughout 2025.
According to the Pentagon Press Association, Hegseth’s team has:

• Eliminated routine briefings

• Reduced newsroom workspace inside the Pentagon

• Restricted reporters’ movement within the building

Critics claim these moves reflect Hegseth’s long-standing frustration with leaks and his desire to control the narrative surrounding U.S. military operations.

Concerns Over Free Press and Transparency

Media lawyers argue that the Pentagon’s new rules compel reporters to “acknowledge that harm inevitably flows from the disclosure of unauthorized information,” a claim they say is factually untrue and legally problematic.

“This effort has culminated in vague new policies that appear to violate the First Amendment,” said the PPA in its statement.

Journalists emphasize that the Pentagon’s previous access rules functioned without national security issues for decades, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Critics say the new restrictions are politically motivated, intended to limit independent scrutiny of the Trump administration’s defense policies and military decision-making.

Media’s Call for Accountability

Amid the growing backlash, newsroom leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to independent and trustworthy journalism.

As tensions rise, legal experts suggest this confrontation could lead to a landmark First Amendment battle between the U.S. military and the media — a fight that could define press freedom for years to come.