Pete Hegseth creates task force with DOJ to prosecute leakers to media

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced Monday the creation of a joint task force with the Justice Department to identify and prosecute officials who leak “sensitive information” to the media.

Hegseth said the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all information, support and records related to news media leak investigations.

“To effectively immediately combat the dangers posed by leaks, I have delegated assignment authority to the War Department’s office of general counsel and authorized the OGC to request and receive all department-wide information, records, and support related to media leak investigations,” he said in a video shared on X.

“Leaked information puts lives at risk; these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in preserving our collective power,” Hegseth continued. “The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those seeking instant news, access to classified and confidential information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be dealt with by the full force of the law.”

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The Secretary also thanked Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche for his support and added that he was “proud that our departments are working together more closely than ever before.”

Hegseth’s announcement comes just days after the Justice Department subpoenaed four reporters from the New York Times; The newspaper was trying to force them to testify before a federal grand jury after reporting on security concerns about the plane gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar and flown to Türkiye for a recent NATO summit.

The subpoenas were widely criticized by The New York Times, journalists at several news organizations, and press freedom groups, alleging that the Trump administration was trying to intimidate reporters engaged in legitimate government news gathering.

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The announcement came just days after the Justice Department issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times. (Kevin Wolf/AP)

“The appearance of federal law enforcement on news reporters’ doorsteps should shock the conscience of every American who believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press it protects,” David McCraw, one of the newspaper’s lawyers, said in a statement.

“Our journalists report the facts and advance the American people’s right to know how their government works and how taxpayer dollars are used,” McCraw added. “This brazen action should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from learning what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”

Since taking over the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to prevent leaks to the media.

Last year, the ministry launched an investigation into those accused of leaking classified information to the press and threatened to use polygraphs to identify the leakers.

The Secretary thanked Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche for his support. (Kent NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Hegseth also sought to impose restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He had forced them to sign an undertaking that they would not request any material without permission, even if the information was not confidential. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their press badges rather than accept the department’s restrictions on newsgathering.

Lawsuits have been filed over the policy, and last month a judge issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by the New York Times, finding that the department’s requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official chaperone at all times violated the First Amendment.