Pentagon limits the media movement according to leakage surface

Pentagon limits the media movement, after Leck's cross -surface \ Newslooks \ Washington Dc \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Defense Minister Pete Hegseth has imposed comprehensive restrictions on access to the press in Pentagon. The move follows a number of leaks and includes essential media from previously accessible areas. Journalists and press associations have sentenced the move as a threat to transparency.

Quick appearance

• Press the procedure: Reporters who have now excluded the essential access to many Pentagon areas.
• Leadership offices sealed: Access to the offices of the common chiefs without Hegseth's approval.
• New requirements: The media must sign confidentiality forms and bear new Press IDS.
• Timing Criticidized: Announcement on Friday before a holiday weekend.
• Licks triggered action: Sensitive information about Musk- and Yemen strikes before are leaked.
• Journalist Space reduced: Large outlets have lost office space in the past few months.
• Concerns regarding the first application: Pentagon Press Association calls it a threat to freedom of the press.
• Limited briefings: Hegseth has not yet held a public Pentagon press conference.

Deep look

In a sharp pivot point from the long-term Pentagon tradition, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth If a number of restrictions announced on Friday, which significantly restrict access to the majority of the Department of Defense. The political shift comes up with the increasing tensions between the media and the Trump administration and is widely answered as a direct answer embarrassing leaks sensitive information.

Hegseth, a former commentator of Fox News, became the top defense officer, published the new rules in one In the afternoon post on XShortly before a holiday weekend – a time step that is often used to minimize public control. He framed the restrictions on “national security and classified intelligence”, but press representatives see them as dramatic transparency rollback.

New obstacles to reporting

As part of the new guideline, the journalist accredited to the Pentagon is no longer allowed Unknown movement In areas, she was previously freely accessed – including the offices of the Defense Minister, the Senior Helfers and the Media Centers for Army, Marine, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force.

Reporters must now receive Previous approval from Hegseth or his employees to spaces such as the offices of the Common chiefs of staffAlthough these areas were once seen as part of the routine reporting landscape. The conductive leadership of the Pentagon, including Chairman General Dan Cainehad previously maintained productive work relationships with the press – so far.

In addition to the restriction of access, Hegseth's guidelines also require journalists Sign confidentiality agreements and wear a New form of the identification badge This clearly marks them as members of the media. It is unclear whether these conditions are required for continued access or whether a rejection can lead to revoked login information.

Leck's trigger escalation

This decision follows a number of youngest leaks that embarrassed the Ministry of Defense. In March, The New York Times reported That Elon Musk received a sensitive briefing about potential military actions in the war with China. The meeting never took place, supposedly canceled by President Donald TrumpBut the leak led to Suspension of two Pentagon officers And an internal investigation.

Another harmful episode occurred when Jeffrey GoldbergEditor -in -chief of The Atlanticwas incorrectly added to a group chat via the signal, which contained the discussion of potential US strikes in Yemen. The leak issued a decay in operational security, and Former national security advisor Mike Waltz Responsible. He was re -assigned shortly afterwards.

Press freedom advocates press back

The Pentagon Press Association (PPA) Friday evening gave a blunt explanation and called the new guideline “a direct attack on freedom of the press”. The group emphasized that the limited zones are located non -classified corridorsHistorically accessible for accredited journalists.

“There is no way to gloss over it,” says the explanation. “This memo undermines the right of the Americans to know how their military works.”

The move also follows a wider pattern of Press the access that is restricted Since Trump's return to office. At the beginning of this year the Associated Press sued the White House excluded after several events. In the meantime, the administration has increased access to Conservative media organized with the president.

Despite these tensions, Trump recorded Further interactions with the press in his first 100 days As each of his six predecessors, a recently carried out study showed. But Hegseth himself was practically absent in public commitmentNot addressed once with reporters in the Pentagon Press Room. Speaker Sean Parnell Has only carried out a briefing since January 20.

Media presence inside the building reduced

The recent restrictions also follow a controversial decision of the pentagon Put office space from eight large media organizationsincluding The New York TimesPresent The Washington PostCNN and NBC News. These measures taken without public explanations have further hindered the ability of the reporters to cover the military's daily work.

National security or political strategy?

Critics argue that the administration uses National security as an excuse protect yourself from the journalistic examination. The coordination between Trump's White House and Figures such as Hegseth, who was in conservative media to make it – is considered part of a broader effort Redesigned the relationships between the government media.

Others suggest that more is more Control as security. By restricting the access, the imposition of new rules and the reduction of the room reporters can create the Pentagon at Hegseth and more opaque, less accountable Defense environment.

When geopolitical tensions rise worldwide and the military operations of the US How and whether the American public learns about these actions can increasingly depend on who in the building – and under what conditions – and under what conditions.

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