Pentagon Press Association calls Defense Secretary Hegseth's access restrictions 'a direct attack'
Source: CNN Business
Published 12:54 PM EDT, Sat May 24, 2025
CNN — Journalists who cover the US military say they are extremely concerned by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s constraints on press access at the Pentagon. They say the newest restrictions, outlined Friday night, appear to be “a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America’s right to know what its military is doing.”
The sharp words from the Pentagon Press Association came after Hegseth announced “additional credentialing procedures for press at the Pentagon in the interest of national security.”
The changes make key parts of the Pentagon building off-limits to journalists unless they have an official escort. Further restrictions are likely in the coming weeks, according to a Pentagon memo that alluded to a forthcoming pledge to protect military secrets and tougher scrutiny of press credentialing.
Friday night’s announcement is part of a pattern. Since January, Hegseth and his Trump administration allies have taken numerous steps to stifle independent media.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/24/media/pentagon-press-access-hegseth
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