In the US, journalists will be able to enter the Pentagon building only if they agree not to publish certain information. This gives the department broad control over publications in media.
This was reported by the Politico portal.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an email on Friday evening that journalists will be able to continue visiting the Ministry of Defense only if they sign a memorandum stating that they will not publish classified information or some less sensitive documents that do not have the official "state secret" stamp.
The new rules will take effect within the next two to three weeks.
According to Parnell, information from the Ministry of Defense must be approved by the appropriate authorized official before it is made public, even if it is not classified.
"Failure to comply with these rules may result in the suspension or revocation of your building pass and loss of access," the memo, which journalists must sign, says.
Officials called the move necessary because any unauthorized disclosure of information "poses a security threat that could harm U.S. national security and endanger [DoD] personnel."
The move follows a trend of increasingly restricted access to the largest U.S. federal agency under the Trump administration.
The new rules also give the Pentagon broad authority to deem journalists a security threat and strip them of their press passes if they receive or publish information the agency deems unfit for public release.
The rules also come amid efforts by the Defense Department to hold military and civilian officials accused of mocking the killing of Charlie Kirk accountable on social media, and in the broader context of a debate about possible restrictions on free speech.
"The Pentagon is not run by 'the press,' it's run by the people. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules - or go home," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Twitter.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the Department of Defense, said its members were studying the new directive.
Traditionally, journalists have had access to unclassified areas of the Pentagon to cover the military's interactions with the world. That included the offices of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the six branches of the military.
But in January 2025, the Defense Department laid off a number of media outlets - including POLITICO, the Washington Post, and the New York Times - and invited mostly conservative outlets.
When news organizations protested, the Pentagon barred access to several more outlets, including NBC News and CNN.
In May, Hegseth further restricted access after criticism for sharing sensitive details of U.S. strikes in Yemen in a Signal group to which he had been mistakenly added.
The new rules at the time restricted journalists to the building's press rooms, cafeteria, and courtyard. They now have to be escorted to enter any other area.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.