Pentagon Imposes Sweeping Restrictions on Media, Warning Journalists of "Security or Safety Risk"

Strategic Insights -

The US Department of War (DoW) has imposed strict restrictions on journalists, requiring them to obtain formal clearance before reporting or collecting any information, even if it is unclassified. The new directive, announced on Thursday, prohibits journalists from accessing classified information without proper clearance and non-disclosure agreements. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that journalists who report on matters outside of the Pentagon's directives could have their credentials revoked. The move comes amid criticism of Hegseth's handling of sensitive information, including a private chat that accidentally included a journalist, and his decision to bar several major outlets from Pentagon office space.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Department of War (DoW) requires journalists to obtain formal clearance before reporting or collecting any information, even if it is unclassified.
  • Journalists who report on matters outside of the Pentagon's directives could be considered a "security or safety risk" and have their credentials revoked.
  • The directive prohibits journalists from accessing classified information without proper clearance, non-disclosure agreements, and a "need-to-know" status.
  • US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has barred several major outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Politico, and NPR, from Pentagon office space.
  • The National Press Club has criticized the policy, warning that it is a "direct assault on independent journalism" and that the public will no longer receive independent reporting.
  • The restrictions come amid Trump's escalating attacks on the media, including his assertion that "97% of major US networks are against me" and his suggestion that broadcasters' licenses should be "taken away."
  • The policy has drawn sharp criticism from the National Press Club and other journalism organizations, who argue that it undermines the public's right to know.

Statistics:

  • 97% of major US networks against Trump (as stated by the President)
  • Number of major outlets barred from Pentagon office space: multiple (including The New York Times, CNN, Politico, and NPR)
  • Number of journalists affected by the new restrictions: unknown
  • Timeframe for the new restrictions: not specified

Sources:

  • [Press TV, 2022](https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2022/03/24/3835481/Pentagon-press-restrictions-US-Journalists-Secretary-of-War-)