Major news organizations, including The New York Times, AP, AFP, and Fox News, have opted not to sign new restrictive media guidelines set by the Pentagon, resulting in the revocation of their press access credentials. Published on October 15, 2025, and updated shortly thereafter, this decision follows the Defense Department’s recent actions to limit media access within the Pentagon, compel certain outlets to vacate their offices, and significantly reduce the number of briefings available to journalists.
The Pentagon Press Association (PPA) criticized the new media policy, stating it effectively “gags Pentagon employees” by threatening repercussions for reporters who pursue information that has not been pre-approved for release. AFP expressed its inability to accept the terms of the Pentagon’s document, which it claims contradicts fundamental U.S. constitutional principles and the core values of journalism. The agency affirmed its commitment to covering the Pentagon and the U.S. military fairly and independently, as it has for many years.
In a joint statement, major TV networks including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC announced their refusal to sign the new rules, arguing that they would hinder journalists’ ability to inform the public about critical national security matters. Other conservative outlets, such as the Washington Times and Newsmax, are also reportedly rejecting the new policy, which could lead to the revocation of approximately 100 press passes.
These new regulations are part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions on journalists’ access to information from the Pentagon, which is the largest employer in the U.S. with a budget in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Earlier this year, the Defense Department had already announced that eight media organizations, including The New York Times, would be affected by these changes.