Numerous outlets with Pentagon access have rejected a new War Department credential policy requiring journalists to pledge not to seek unauthorized materials and limiting unescorted access. Organizations were told to sign by Tuesday at 5 p.m. or lose credentials within 24 hours.
The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, The Atlantic, Reuters, AP, NPR, The Guardian, Politico, The Hill, HuffPost, Breaking Defense, and Newsmax declined. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the policy online as editors warned it would hinder reporting.
The DX Brief
- War Department policy requires a pledge not to seek unauthorized materials, restricts unescorted access, and sets a 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline with 24-hour credential forfeiture for noncompliance
- Declining outlets include The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, The Atlantic, Reuters, AP, NPR, The Guardian, Politico, The Hill, HuffPost, Breaking Defense, and Newsmax
- Policy introduced under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth; some media workspaces reassigned under an annual rotation program
- Editors at the Post and Times said the rules impede reporting, while Hegseth defended them online with a wave emoji and the caption “Press Credentialing FOR DUMMIES”
Read the full article at ZeroHedge.
