Pentagon press briefings are the primary channel through which the Defense Department communicates with the public and press about military operations, policy decisions, and budget matters. The Secretary of Defense traditionally holds these briefings to provide official statements and take questions. Historically, the Pentagon has allowed journalists to report casualty figures openly as a matter of public accountability for the human costs of military operations. Defense secretaries have at times criticized coverage but rarely accused the press of acting in bad faith when reporting on troop deaths.