JUST IN: Major News Outlets REJECT Pete Hegseth’s New Pentagon Press Policy

Last month, the Pentagon released new some new rules for reporters aimed at protecting our nation’s security.

The rules were pretty simple. For instance, journalists can no longer roam around freely and must identify themselves with a badge.

Secretary Hegseth announced the new rules on X:

Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right. So, here is @DeptofWar press credentialing FOR DUMMIES:

✅ Press no longer roams free

✅ Press must wear visible badge

✅ Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal acts

DONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every…

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025

Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right. So, here is @DeptofWar
press credentialing FOR DUMMIES:

✅ Press no longer roams free

✅ Press must wear visible badge

✅ Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal acts

DONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every U.S military installation

I’m not sure why those rules weren’t the standard in the first place, to be honest.

But, they’re proving very controversial…

You see, in order to keep their press credentials, reporters need to sign a pledge agreeing to the new rules by this Tuesday.

However, a huge majority of news outlets are flat-out refusing to do so.

Take The Atlantic, for instance:

The Atlantic’s journalists will not sign the Pentagon’s press policy. Statement here from editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg: pic.twitter.com/j1W48qSQuo

— The Atlantic Communications (@TheAtlanticPR) October 13, 2025

The Washington Post is another outlet refusing to get on-board with the new Pentagon press rules:

🚨New statement from @WashingtonPost Executive Editor @murraymatt on the Pentagon's new press access policy.https://t.co/G1chmvQB1P pic.twitter.com/p0leb8yK8J

— Washington Post Communications (@WashPostComms) October 13, 2025

So is the AP and New York Times:

🚨 JUST IN: The Associated Press is now REFUSING to sign onto SecWar Pete Hegseth's new Pentagon press policy preventing them from freely roaming the halls and jeopardizing sensitive information.

The AP is joining the New York Times.

Ok. KICK' EM OUT! Access to the Pentagon… pic.twitter.com/YKEkfZIdt1

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 13, 2025

But, it’s not just far-left fake news outlets that are refusing to sign the pledge.

Conservative outlets like Newsmax and The Washington Times are also pushing back.

Axios provided a list of some of the news outlets who have said they will not sign it:

Zoom in: Over the past few days, editors from major news organizations have released statements explaining why their reporters will not be signing the pledge.

• The Washington Post: “The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information,” executive editor Matt Murray said in a statement Monday. “We will continue to vigorously and fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon and officials across the government.”
• The Atlantic: “We fundamentally oppose the restrictions that the Trump administration is imposing on journalists who are reporting on matters of defense and national security,” editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement Monday. “The requirements violate our First Amendment rights, and the rights of Americans who seek to know how taxpayer-funded military resources and personnel are being deployed. We will continue to cover matters of defense, war, and national security independently and fairly.”
• The Guardian “will decline to sign the revised Pentagon press pass policy because it places unacceptable restrictions on activities protected by the First Amendment,” a spokesperson told Axios Monday.
• The Wall Street Journal remains “concerned with the Pentagon’s new press rules and requirements, and our reporters will not be signing them in their current form,” a spokesperson told Axios Monday.
• NPR “will never be party to limitations on the independence of the press and the objective, fact-based reporting of our journalists,” editor-in-chief Thomas Evans said in a statement Monday. “We will not sign the Administration’s restrictive policy that asks reporters to undermine their commitment of providing trustworthy, independent journalism to the American public.”
• Reuters “is bound by its commitment to accurate, impartial and independent news under the Thompson Reuters Trust Principles,” a spokesperson told Axios Sunday. “We also steadfastly believe in the press protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution, the unrestricted flow of information and journalism that serves the public interest without fear or favor. The Pentagon’s new restrictions erode these fundamental values. Therefore, our journalists will not sign the revised press pass policy.”
• Newsmax “has no plans to sign the letter,” a spokesperson told Axios Sunday. “We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”
• New York Times journalists “will not sign the Pentagon’s revised press policy, which threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment,” Washington bureau chief Richard Stevenson said in a statement Friday. “Since the policy was first announced, we have expressed concerns that it constrains how journalists can report on the U.S. military, which is funded by $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars annually. The public has a right to know how the government and military are operating. The Times is dedicated to pursuing the public interest through deep, fair reporting and an unwavering pursuit of the facts.”

• Axios and Associated Press journalists will not be signing the pledge, spokespeople from both outlets confirmed to Axios.
• Washington Times executive editor and president Christopher Dolan, confirmed to the Washington Post that its reporters would not be signing the pledge.

Deadline added a few more names to the list:

Media outlets ranging from The Atlantic to CNN to Newsmax have so far said that they do not plan for their correspondents to sign a new Pentagon press policy, arguing that it attempts to threaten access to the complex unless reporters agree to restrictions on how they have normally done their jobs.

The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR also said that they would not sign, along with other outlets including The Hill and NewsNation.

A spokesperson for Newsmax said on Monday, “Newsmax has no plans to sign the letter.  We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”

A spokesperson for CNN said, “We will not be deflected from our duty to hold all three fairly and fully to account, and we will continue to report on the actions and decision-making processes of the U.S. government without fear or favor.”

The Pentagon unveiled a new policy last month that required that information “be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.” The risk for news organizations that signed it was that their reporters could lose their credentials for access to the complex.

I’m not sure which part of the pledge is so abhorrent to these news outlets…

It’s the Pentagon, for heaven’s sake!

I agree with Matt Gaetz here:

Frankly I’m shocked these weren’t already the rules.

It’s the PENTAGON! @oann is happy to follow these reasonable conditions, grounded in care for our national security. https://t.co/gv78Tvg8W0

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 13, 2025

The fact that so many conservative news outlets are refusing to sign this pledge is rather disturbing.

Newsmax especially has been pretty solid and trustworthy over the years.

But, maybe there is something I am missing here.

I would like to see these news outlets point out specifically which of the new restrictions they take issue with…

What are your thoughts on this?