Pentagon Tightens Media Access Amid Leaks and Signal App Scandal

Late Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo detailing a significant increase in restrictions on press access at the Pentagon. The new measures will limit the areas reporters can access and implement a loyalty-style pledge for those covering the military establishment.

In a significant policy shift, journalists must obtain formal approval and an escort from the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, currently headed by spokesperson Sean Parnell, to access the hallway outside Hegseth’s office. Reporters must be accompanied when visiting the public affairs offices of each military branch.

The Pentagon has announced a new requirement for press members to sign a written agreement committing to safeguard “sensitive information,” which has sparked considerable debate.

Critics contend that this could serve as a means of retaliation against unfavorable reporting, particularly in cases involving leaked documents.

The memo characterizes the action as an element of “updated security measures,” aimed at preventing unauthorized disclosures — a clear allusion to a recent scandal concerning Hegseth’s leaks through the Signal app.

In March, The Atlantic reported that Hegseth, together with senior officials from the Trump administration, engaged in discussions regarding potential airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in an unsecured group chat that inadvertently included a journalist.

The inspector general is currently investigating Hegseth's use of the app. This scrutiny follows reports that he shared details of strikes with family members.

Hegseth’s press team has significantly scaled back on public briefings in recent developments. Deputy press secretary Kingsley Wilson, recently promoted, faces scrutiny due to a history of extremist social media posts. Notably, he has yet to conduct standard briefings, opting for sessions aimed at children during “Take Your Child to Work Day.”

The Pentagon asserts that recent changes are designed to bolster security. However, advocates for press freedom caution that these developments signal a concerning move towards increased opacity within the nation's largest federal agency.