This claim is that the Pentagon has attempted to implement new policies about the information journalists will be allowed to report regarding the Department of Defense (Now the Department of War). It specifically mentions a claim that military personnel will not be able to present journalists with any information without prior approval from the Department of War.
An article published by BBC, written by Brajesh Upadhyay
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0ygg06pgko
This article is linked in the original post.
The article mentions the policy submitted and claims that it contains a “provision that military personnel need approval before sharing information with the media, even if it isn't classified.”
An article published by Aljazeera, written by Aren Hale
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/16/us-media-return-pentagon-passes-giving-up-access-after-new-rules-kick-in
This article also mentions this document. It escalates it further than the BBC article and claims that reporters were given a deadline of Wednesday afternoon to sign a 21 page document. This document contains the rules to receive press credentials and access the Pentagon. This article presents quotes from the Pentagon Press association. These quotes claim that “reporters would not sign onto a new media policy over its implicit threat of criminalising national security reporting and exposing those who sign it to potential prosecution.” Over 30 news outlets have declined to follow the new guidelines issued by the Department of War.
An article published by Fox 21 News, written by David Bauder
https://www.fox21news.com/news/national/ap-journalists-turn-in-access-badges-exit-pentagon-rather-than-agree-to-new-reporting-rules/
Confirms that this is a legitimate policy being implemented by Pete Hegseth and that journalists have nearly unanimously refused to abide and have vacated the pentagon.
This claim is true, and the Pentagon has not only attempted to implement these policies, but they have successfully pushed the policies forward despite dissent from journalists and news outlets. Based on this Reuters article (https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-news-outlets-reject-pentagon-press-access-policy-2025-10-14/), which was updated ten hours ago, the Pentagon has chosen to revise the policy. Despite revision, the Pentagon remains adamant that publishing information that may be sensitive is not entirely protected by the First Amendment. The Pentagon has directly stated that “The press's rights are not absolute.”
