Major news outlets refuse new Pentagon press restrictions under Hegseth

Almost a dozen major news outlets, including The Atlantic, Associated Press, Axios, CNN, Guardian, Newsmax, New York Times, NPR, Reuters, Washington Post, and Washington Times, have announced their refusal to comply with new rules and restrictions imposed on journalists covering the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Reporters must sign an agreement by Tuesday, October 14, 2025, or risk losing their press passes at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents all reporters working under the Pentagon Press Corps, has condemned the new restrictions as a threat to the First Amendment. They assert that the restrictions aim to “gag Pentagon employees” and threaten retaliation against reporters seeking information that has not been pre-approved for release. Media outlets have indicated that this “pledge” is part of a broader initiative by the Trump Administration, initiated in January, to limit public information regarding activities within the Pentagon and the U.S. Armed Forces.

As of now, only One America News (OAN) has expressed its intention to sign the pledge from the Pentagon.