• The Pentagon has introduced new restrictions limiting journalists' access and reporting on military operations.
• Reporters are required to sign an affidavit agreeing not to disclose any unauthorized information.
• Media organizations condemn the rules as a significant threat to independent journalism.

The Pentagon has unveiled sweeping new restrictions affecting journalists covering the U.S. military, now requiring them to sign an affidavit that prohibits the disclosure of unauthorized information, including unclassified material. These measures, first announced in a memo, state that any information must obtain prior approval from an appropriate authorizing official before it can be publicly released, significantly curtailing independent reporting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted, "The 'press' does not run the Pentagon — the people do," indicating that press movements within the facility will also be strictly controlled, according to Indiatimes, Le Monde, and Dawn.

Under the new policy, journalists could have their press credentials revoked if they are found to publish unauthorized sensitive material. This includes not just classified information but also "controlled unclassified information," which critics argue severely restricts the flow of information vital to the public's understanding of military operations. The National Press Club President Mike Balsamo emphasized the alarm these new measures raise, stating, "If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting," as reported by CBS News and Channel News Asia.

The restrictions are particularly controversial given the context of President Trump's ongoing criticism of the media, which he has accused of bias. Advocates for press freedoms have characterized these new rules as a threat to First Amendment rights and independent journalism, labeling them a "direct assault" and an act of prior restraint on publication. "This policy reeks of prior restraint — the most egregious violation of press freedom under the First Amendment," stated representatives from the Society of Professional Journalists in reaction to these developments, according to BBC and Reuters.

Despite the insistence from Pentagon officials that these changes are "common-sense guidelines" meant to enhance security, the implications for press coverage remain significant. News organizations, including major outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, have expressed deep concern about the potential stifling of independent reporting on military matters. The memo outlines a range of areas in the Pentagon where journalists will require escorts, exacerbating worries that transparency is being compromised under the guise of security, as highlighted by Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.