Defense Secretary Imposes New Restrictions on Press Access to Pentagon

The latest rules are ‘pragmatic changes to protect operational security,’ says a Pentagon spokesperson.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with British Secretary of State for Defence John Healey at the Pentagon in Washington on March 6, 2025. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the implementation of new restrictions on press access within the Pentagon to better protect sensitive information, the Department of Defense (DOD) said in a May 23 memorandum.

The Defense Department’s highest priority is national security, including the protection of classified national intelligence information (CNSI) and sensitive, unclassified information such as that deemed to be critical for operations security (OPSEC), the memo stated.