Last week, the vast majority of news outlets covering the U.S. military rejected restrictions imposed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
Rather than submit to these new rules—which would have forbidden them from even soliciting unauthorized information from Pentagon sources—most of the reporters turned in the press badges that gave them access to the building.
A free and independent press has been at the core of this nation since its founding. Having a Pentagon press corps that merely shares pre-approved talking points with its readers and viewers does a disservice to everyone.
While the press badges may have been turned in, those reporting on the military have indicated they will continue to tell the American people what they need to know, despite the lack of access....