Pete Hegseth's Defense Department has threatened to revoke press credentials for news organisations that do not agree to restrictive new coverage rules, potentially barring journalists from physical access to the Pentagon. However, more than three dozen news outlets have refused to sign the requirements.
On Tuesday, five major TV news networks—ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News—issued a joint statement declining to agree to the new rules. The Pentagon had given reporters until Tuesday to sign the agreement or turn in their press passes by Wednesday.
The new rules, outlined last month, require reporters to pledge not to obtain or use unauthorised material, even if unclassified. The networks said in their statement: 'Today, 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. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections.'
Other outlets refusing to comply include the New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico, NewsNation, the Hill, Newsmax and the Washington Examiner. As of now, only One America News Network (OANN) has agreed to sign on.
Fox News has previously opposed Trump-era press restrictions, backing CNN's efforts to restore Jim Acosta's White House credentials in 2018. Fox News president Jay Wallace then stated: 'While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone... we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.'
