Pentagon press corps walks out after Hegseth requires pre-approval

Defense Secretary PHPete Hegseth issued new rules in May 2025 banning reporters from roaming the Pentagon without official escorts. Previously, credentialed journalists could move freely through most of the building.

In September 2025, the Pentagon issued a 17-page memo requiring journalists to sign a pledge not to gather or report information that hasn't been authorized for release, including unclassified material.

On October 15, 2025, at the 4 p.m. deadline, about 40 to 50 Pentagon correspondents walked out together and surrendered their press badges. They carried boxes of documents, chairs, and equipment to the parking lot.

ABC News, CBS News, CNN, NBC News, and Fox News issued a joint statement rejecting the new rules. Even Newsmax refused to sign, calling the requirements unnecessary and onerous.

Only the One America News Network signed the agreement. This marks the first time since the Eisenhower administration that no major U.S. network or publication has a permanent Pentagon presence.

The 🗽New York Times filed a federal lawsuit on December 4, 2025, challenging the restrictions as unconstitutional prior restraint under the First Amendment. The lawsuit names Hegseth and spokesman Sean Parnell.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 23 media organizations filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit. The White House Correspondents Association called the lawsuit a vital step.