The Pentagon Press Is Peacocking In Protest, Giving DOW Sec. Hegseth Exactly What He Wants: Part 1

Posted • October 15, 2025: The media covering the Department of Defense (soon to be Department of War) is having a conniption and banding together to oppose the new restrictions that have been placed on their newsgathering. The end result of this defiance will be granting Secretary Pete Hegseth precisely what he wants. There has been a long-simmering feud at the Pentagon since Hegseth stepped in as Secretary of War, and it reached a roiling boil this week. After a series of initial moves that saw longtime outlets displaced from the press room and other non-traditional changes, this has escalated during the past month with the release of a new set of press parameters. After much barking last month upon the initial set of rule changes, there were meetings between the press office and a number of outlets. This resulted in a new batch of regulations which, while admittedly less restrictive than before, were still greeted as unacceptable by many correspondents and outlets. However, the Pentagon remained inflexible on the current policy issued.

Secretary Hegseth is insistent on restricting some of the access that had been granted inside the building, as well as tightening requirements for press credentialing, and threatening that these credentials could be revoked should an outlet dispense information not officially approved by the administration. This move has rankled most outlets on site, resulting in a collective snit fit witnessed from almost all of the news sites covering the Pentagon. There has been a parade of outlets, including right-leaning sources like Fox News and Newsmax, that have posted their official statements declaring they refuse to sign off on the new standards. Here's an updated list of who has signed and who is refusing to sign the Pentagon's press policy. https://x.com/ScottNover/status/1978164283625144417 —— The first dose of amusement is that these are not folks operating from the standpoint of strength.

The posturing seen from the news sources is meant to sound bold and defiant, but they are not exactly going to see Hegseth buckle under pressure. As streiff pointed out Tuesday, the Secretary of War who wants to curtail leaking will be rather satisfied when faced with outlets declaring they will walk away. Adding to the media miasma on display are some of the arguments being made, which do not seem to follow logic. Yes, there is some concern when the press is being limited from reporting on governmental activity, but there is a differing standard that applies to the military, and specifically our intelligence services. The news organization Poynter expectantly goes over the various First Amendment permutations in this new set of guidelines. But other arguments defy logic. One of the primary concerns heard from the journos and their outlets is that they cannot abide the threat that their credentials might be pulled if they spread sensitive leaked intelligence. So their answer is to refuse to sign the new agreement, and thus forego their credentials voluntarily?!

CNN's Brian Stelter, for one, makes the bold proclamation that this new toughened environment will not deter the journalism and fact-finding. He tries to sound defiant, declaring that reporters will continue with their dogged journalism from beyond the 5-Wall sanctum. —— Brian Stelter @brianstelter: “Pete Hegseth, bedeviled by leaks, is trying to stop Pentagon beat reporters from talking with sources. But the reporting will continue, just from outside the Pentagon's walls.” —— Great, and if that is accurate, then all of the wailing being heard is rather neutered. In another perplexing comment on the matter, longtime Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr addresses the condition set by Secretary Hegseth to prevent reporters from having unfettered access in the building. —— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon's press policies: "It used to be, Mr. President, that the press could go pretty much anywhere in the Pentagon — the most classified area in the world... it's common sense stuff. We're trying to make sure national security is respected." (…)

• More at: RedState - The Pentagon Press Is Peacocking in Protest, Giving DOW Secretary Hegseth Exactly What He Wants
https://redstate.com/bradslager/2025/10/15/the-pentagon-press-is-peacocking-in-protest-and-as-a-result-gives-secretary-hegseth-exactly-what-he-wants-n2195093
Rumble: A Eunich Shaped Like A Potato Is Triggered Because Media Can't Leak Pentagon Intel Anymore
https://rumble.com/v70cnu4-a-eunich-shaped-like-a-potato-is-triggered-because-media-cant-leak-pentagon.html
Rumble: The Pentagon Press Is Peacocking In Protest, Giving DOW Sec. Hegseth Exactly What He Wants: Part 2
https://rumble.com/v70cpny-the-pentagon-press-is-peacocking-in-protest-giving-dow-sec.-hegseth-exactly.html