October 15, 2025press freedompress freedomFirst Amendmentgovernment accountabilitypress freedomcivil libertiesexecutive power
Pentagon press corps turns in badges and walks out over access rules
Members of the Pentagon press corps turned in their building badges and walked out in protest after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instituted new pre-approval requirements for media access. Reporters from major outlets including AP, Reuters, and the New York Times participated in the walkout, leaving the Pentagon without its traditional embedded press pool. The collective action represented an unprecedented protest against military press restrictions.