The Pentagon's new policy is an unprecedented attempt to undermine press freedom

"Throughout modern American history, reporters who cover the Pentagon have played an invaluable role shining a light on military actions when the government has not been forthright with the public. For instance, reporters covering the Biden administration's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021 revealed the chaos that ensued and repudiated official statements claiming the pullout was smooth. That included reporting on a drone strike that killed 10 civilians, not ISIS militants, as the government initially claimed."

"But free press advocates warn that recent changes in a Pentagon policy threaten journalists' ability to cover the Department of Defense. That's because it could curb their rights to report information not authorized by the government for release. An initial policy change announced on Sept. 20, 2025 - and later revised - forbade journalists from publishing anything that hadn't been approved by government officials. It gave journalists 10 days to sign and agree to the restrictions."

"As a First Amendment expert, I believe the Pentagon policy change represents an unprecedented development in the Trump administration's offensive against the press and a historic departure from previous administrations' policies. Attacks on journalism, said once-imprisoned journalist Peter Greste, "are a national security issue, and we have to protect press freedom." Greste spoke in early October 2025 at the Global Free Speech Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, adding that "anything that undermines press freedom undermines national security.""

Reporters covering the Pentagon have historically exposed military mistakes and contradicted misleading official statements, including coverage of the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and a drone strike that killed 10 civilians rather than ISIS militants. A Pentagon policy change announced Sept. 20, 2025 initially forbade journalists from publishing material not approved by officials, required journalists to sign agreement within 10 days, and threatened credential cancellation for refusal. Free press advocates warn the policy would curb journalists' rights to report unauthorized information. A First Amendment expert called the policy an unprecedented departure from prior administrations. Peter Greste linked attacks on journalism to national security.

Read at Nieman Lab