Journalists reject Pentagon's reporting rules, walk out of workplace

Journalists have rejected the US Department of War's new news reporting rules, returning their access badges and leaving the Pentagon's premises.

The Department of War (DoW), recently re-branded from the Department of Defense (DoD), restricted media access inside the Pentagon, forcing some news outlets to vacate offices in the building and drastically reducing the number of briefings for reporters.

Dozens of news agencies declined to sign the new Pentagon access policy for journalists, insisting that instead they would give less coverage to the US military.

On Wednesday, in protest to the Pentagon's new restrictions, the nation’s military and defense journalists walked out of the Pentagon, handing in their access badges and leaving the building.

News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting the new rules imposed by the Pentagon's chief as dozens of reporters waited for a deadline of 4 pm to exit the Pentagon premises.

The reporters lined up the Pentagon corridor with boxes of documents, chairs, a copying machine, books and old photos heading towards their vehicles parked outside.

Some 40 to 50 reporters from about 30 outlets -- including Fox News, Reuters, and the New York Times, among others -- left the Pentagon after the deadline for signing the acknowledgment of the new rules expired.

Pentagon restricts media access, threatens journalists over reporting

The Pentagon has demanded journalists pledge not to gather any information that has not been authorized for release.

Pentagon Press Association, which represents over 100 news organizations, said on Wednesday that it is “a dark day for press freedom that raises concerns about a weakening US commitment to transparency in governance, to public accountability at the Pentagon and to free speech for all.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth imposed the new sweeping rules on the media last month, requiring journalists to pledge that they will not collect or report any information, even unclassified documents, without formal clearance. He warned reporters to "wear a badge and follow the rules or go home.”

The DoW says the reporters working in the Pentagon must acknowledge "all information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”

It further requires journalists who report on matters outside the Pentagon's explicit directives could be considered "a security or safety risk" and have their credentials revoked, adding that only individuals with proper clearance, signed non-disclosure agreements, and a “need-to-know” may access classified information.

The nation's leadership called the new rules "common sense" to help regulate a "very disruptive" press.

Trump threatens TV networks as ABC host Jimmy Kimmel suspended

Following the suspension of US TV host Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump threatened that TV networks which cover him “negatively” could be punished.

The Pentagon's new rules for reporters come amid US President Donald Trump's escalating attacks on the media.

Trump, who addresses mainstream media as "fake news", claims “97 percent [of major US networks are] against me," adding, “They give me only bad press,” and suggested that broadcasters' licenses should be “taken away.”

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