"The pattern suggests these actions are less about national security and more about punishing scrutiny, threatening independent reporting, press freedom experts say. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press president Bruce Brown said in an emailed statement Wednesday night, "Government sources bring to light issues that deserve public scrutiny. Targeting them has a chilling effect and makes it difficult for others to come forward, which is undoubtedly the administration's goal.""
"Driving the news: Noem's post on X that alleges leaks put DHS law enforcement at risk comes amid speculation on her role at the department, as she faces criticism over inaccurate information that claimed immigration agents fatally shot an armed Minnesota protester last month because he wanted to "massacre" them. Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, questioned Noem's claims in Wednesday's post that DHS officials faced an "8,000%" increase in death threats and said Tump administration officials used such statistics without citing sources in order to "justify their attacks on transparency." When asked for comment on whether the Trump administrations actions marked an attack on free speech, DHS responded by resharing Noem's post in an emailed statement on Wednesday night. The White House referred Axios to DHS for comment."
"The big picture: The crackdown began last April when the Department of Justice ended a Biden-era policy against subpoenaing journalists, with Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing attempts to seize reporters' phone records in order to smoke out leakers would resume. That month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced several criminal referrals over alleged classified information leaks and the Pentagon placed two top officials on administrative leave as part of an investigation into leaks at the Defense Department."
Actions against reporters and alleged leakers appear aimed at punishing scrutiny and intimidating independent reporting rather than protecting national security. Targeting sources creates a chilling effect and discourages others from coming forward. A post alleged leaks increased threats to DHS personnel by 8,000% but provided no cited sources, and broader claims linking leaks to immediate danger have been questioned. The Department of Justice ended a Biden-era restriction on subpoenaing journalists and announced renewed efforts to seize reporters' phone records. Intelligence and Defense officials initiated criminal referrals and administrative leaves amid leak investigations.
Read at Axios
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