A kerfuffle over new press rules for the Pentagon issued by the Department of War has conservative media outlets in an uncomfortable position as they determine what stance to take. Do they agree to new procedures and receive a coveted press pass or buck the system on an alleged ethical basis? Any which way you turn this Rubik’s Cube, it appears everyone is a loser.
On Wednesday, October 22, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced a new press corps made up of media outlets that signed on to the Department of War’s revised rules and restrictions, which many interpret as a rollback of the press' independence and freedom. In a 17-page document published by The New York Times in September, the DoW outlines the expansion of press restrictions and the limitation of press access to people and places within the Pentagon.
Of particular interest to the media outlets mulling over their decision to play ball with the DoW or not is one line from page three of the document that reads:
“DoW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”
This statement, while not in the section that members of the press must sign, appears as an ominous threat to some members of the media on both the left and right, especially when they couple it with a warning in the first graph of the document, which reads:
“Failure to abide by these rules may result in suspension or revocation of your building pass and loss of access.”
It remains unclear whether that threat applies to the editorial decisions of the Pentagon press corps – some take it to mean they will have to get every story cleared by administration officials. Others are just saying, “Whatever. Give me the press pass and we’ll go from there.”
Pentagon Press: No Way, José
Much of the new agreement between media outlets and the Pentagon has to do with building access, codes of conduct, and a mountain of other minutiae that, taken at face value, don’t amount to much. Some of the restrictions sound downright inane: “I understand I must wear my PFAC [Pentagon Facilities Alternative Credential] and APIB [Additional Press Identifier Badge] above my waist at all times.”
Really?
It’s no secret that the left-wing media holds no water for President Donald Trump and those in his administration. Secretary Pete Hegseth certainly has the right to determine what may or may not go on inside the Pentagon. Still, it does make one wonder whether the former Fox News host has made an unforced error and unwittingly given the left something else to grumble about. It’s interesting to note that Fox News – Hegseth’s former employer – has chosen to give up its credentials.
But the right is clearly split. On Wednesday, The Daily Signal published an article defending its decision to sign up and go for the pass. Newsmax, however, said no way, José, but Human Events and The National Pulse went ahead and complied with the new directives.
White House Mostly Mum
So where does the president stand on these all-new Pentagon papers? For the most part, he’s stayed out of the fray. Last Tuesday, October 14, he was asked to comment on Hegseth’s new initiative. The president said: “I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace. The press is very dishonest.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
It must be noted that the Secretary of War has had nothing less than a stranglehold on the Pentagon press corps since taking office. The UK’s Independent pointed out something that is not lost on Washington insiders, “[H]egseth, a former Fox News Channel host, has systematically choked off the flow of information. He’s held only two formal press briefings, banned reporters from accessing many parts of the sprawling Pentagon without an escort, and launched investigations into leaks to the media.” As it is, his new Pentagon press policies are not winning friends and influencing people. While many conservatives say good riddance to the leftist media outlets, some see Hegseth’s moves as needlessly hostile.
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