Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new rules | US | News

Dozens of reporters surrendered their access cards and left the Pentagon on Wednesday rather than accept government restrictions on their work; This further alienated journalists covering the American military from the seat of power. The US government called the new rules “common sense”.

News organizations have been nearly unanimous in rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to deportation if they seek to report on classified or otherwise information not approved for publication by Hegseth.

Most of the reporters waited to leave together at 16:00, the Ministry of Defense’s deadline for leaving the building. As the hour approached, boxes of documents lined the Pentagon corridor and reporters suddenly carried chairs, copiers, books and old photographs from abandoned work areas into the parking lot. Shortly after 4 p.m., approximately 40 to 50 journalists left together after turning in their badges.

“It’s sad, but I’m also really proud of the press corps we’ve put together,” said Nancy Youssef, a reporter for The Atlantic who has had a desk at the Pentagon since 2007. He took a map of the Middle East to his car.

It’s unclear what practical impact the new rules will have, but news organizations have vowed to continue covering the military strongly, regardless of viewpoint.

Images of reporters effectively demonstrating against obstacles to their work are unlikely to impress President Donald Trump’s supporters, many of whom are angry at journalists and applaud efforts to make their jobs harder. Trump was involved in lawsuits last year against the New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, the Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump supported the Secretary of Defense’s new rules. “I think the press is very destructive to world peace,” Trump said. “The press is very dishonest.”

Hegseth, the former Fox News Channel host, systematically cut off the flow of information even before announcing the new press policy. He held only two official news conferences, banned reporters from accessing many parts of the sprawling Pentagon without an escort, and launched an investigation into leaks to the media.

He called his new rules “common sense” and said the requirement for journalists to sign a document outlining the rules meant they agreed to the new rules, not necessarily accepted them. Journalists see that there is a distinction without a difference.

“What they’re actually doing is they want to spoon-feed information to the journalist, and that’s going to be their story. That’s not journalism,” said retired U.S. Army general and Fox News analyst Jack Keane of Hegseth’s former network.

Keane said he wanted new brigadier generals to take lessons in the role of the media in democracy to avoid intimidation when he served, and also that he saw reporters as a conduit to the American public. “There were times when stories were made that kind of creeped me out,” he said. “But that’s usually because we did something that wasn’t as good as we should have done.”

Youssef said it didn’t make sense to sign rules stating that reporters should not seek information from military officials. “To agree not to demand information is to agree not to be a journalist,” he said. “Our whole purpose is to gather information.”

Many reporters posted on social media while handing over their press badges.

“This is such a small thing, but it made me really proud to see my picture on the Pentagon correspondents’ wall,” wrote USNINews reporter Heather Mongillo, who covers the Navy. “I will turn in my badge today. Reporting will continue.”

Mongillo, Youssef and others emphasized that they will continue to do their jobs no matter where their desks are. Some sources will continue to talk to them, but they say some in the military have cooled down due to threats from Pentagon leadership.

NPR correspondent Tom Bowman noted in an article that he was tipped off numerous times by people he knew at the Pentagon and while he was serving in the military about what was going on, even though it contradicted the official lines put forth by the leadership. Many understand the role of the media.

“They knew the American people deserved to know what was going on,” Bowman wrote. “With no reporters able to ask questions, Pentagon leadership is likely to continue relying on slick social media posts, carefully crafted short videos, and interviews with partisan commentators and podcasters. No one should think that’s good enough.”

The Pentagon Press Association, which has 101 members representing 56 news organizations, spoke against the rules. Organizations across the media spectrum, from legacy outlets like the Associated Press and the New York Times to conservative outlets like Fox and Newsmax, have told their reporters to leave rather than sign the new rules.

Only the conservative One America News Network has signed on. Gabrielle Cuccia, a former Pentagon reporter who was fired by OANN earlier this year for writing an online column criticizing Hegseth’s media policies, said in an interview with the AP that she believes the administration will likely gain more access by showing support for Trump administration officials.