Pentagon Reporters Face New Loyalty Pledge

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS — Military News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (September 20, 2025) — The Pentagon is rolling out sweeping new restrictions on journalists, requiring them to sign a “loyalty pledge” that bans the use of unauthorized information — even when it’s unclassified.

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The controversial move, championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes amid his ongoing campaign to plug internal leaks. Reporters who refuse to sign the pledge, or who the Department of Defense deems a “security threat,” will have their press credentials revoked.

From Polygraphs to Pledges

Hegseth has escalated efforts to silence suspected leakers inside his department. Earlier this year, he floated the idea of subjecting Pentagon employees to polygraph tests to root out whistleblowers. The new journalist pledge extends that crackdown directly to members of the press.

The 17-page document also forces media outlets to sign agreements restricting their movement inside the Pentagon, barring reporters from freely walking the halls or gathering information outside of official briefings.

“Wear a Badge or Go Home”

“The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility,” Hegseth declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the guidelines as “basic, common-sense steps” to protect sensitive material and ensure the safety of staff inside the building.

A Department Renamed

The internal communiqué refers to the agency as the Department of War (DoW) — a name authorized by President Donald Trump through executive order. Critics note, however, that legally, renaming the Pentagon still requires congressional approval.

The memo insists DoW remains “committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust” — though transparency, under the new rules, will now require prior authorization before even unclassified information can be published.

Who Gets Access — and Who Doesn’t

The Washington Post reports that legacy outlets such as The New York Times have already been removed from Pentagon offices. In their place, the department has rotated in newer, pro-Trump organizations like Newsmax and Breitbart.

For watchdog groups, the policy risks politicizing who gets access to cover the U.S. military — and who doesn’t.

Ramifications for Press Freedom

Media advocates warn that this sweeping restriction could have a chilling effect on investigative reporting, particularly around military policy. By labeling even unclassified leaks as off-limits, critics say the Pentagon is blurring the line between protecting national security and silencing critical coverage.

For LGBTQ military advocates, the concern is compounded: if access to the Pentagon becomes partisan, coverage of sensitive issues — such as transgender service members, veterans’ healthcare, and LGBTQ equality in the ranks — could be filtered through an ideological lens rather than independent journalism.

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