Trump and Hegseth take a tougher stance against the media, which rejects the new rules

Dozens of renowned media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Axios, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and Reuters, have refused to sign the Pentagon's new policy, which would significantly restrict their access to information.

The policy requires journalists to acknowledge that they could be classified as a security risk if they request the release of classified or certain unclassified information.

While the Pentagon claims that it is merely a matter of confirming understanding of existing rules, the media sees it as an infringement on press freedom. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, called the new rules “common sense,” and the US president accused the press of jeopardizing national security.

The Pentagon Press Association warns that the new conditions “silence employees and intimidate reporters.” Despite a revision of the document, the core of the problems remains unchanged. One America News is a major media outlet that has accepted the rules.

At the same time, the Pentagon issued an ultimatum to the editorial offices: either they sign the document by Tuesday, or they must leave the building by Wednesday.

(reuters, max)