"Dozens of reporters with the Pentagon Press Association turned in their government-issued press badges and left the building Wednesday rather than agree to the rules. "The Trump administration has made the suppression of speech that it doesn't like a governing principle since it took office," says David Schulz, who advised the Pentagon Press Association on their response. He warns the "desire of the Pentagon officials to control what is said about them" is "alarming" and signals a major rupture in U.S. press freedoms."
"About 40 to 50 journalists from major news outlets left together before the 4 p.m. deadline. In a joint statement, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and Fox News all said, quote, "We join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon's new requirements, which would restrict journalists' ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues.""
Dozens of reporters surrendered Pentagon access badges and exited the building rather than accept a Defense Department policy requiring Pentagon authorization for any reporting about the department. Major television networks including NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News declined to sign the new agreement, arguing it would restrict journalists' ability to inform the public on national security. One America News reportedly agreed to the pledge. Advisors to the Pentagon Press Association described the policy as part of broader suppression of speech and warned that Pentagon efforts to control reporting signal an alarming rupture in U.S. press freedoms.
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