The Pentagon

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? Pentagon officials put on leave over leaks

The Pentagon placed two top officials on administrative leave yesterday as part of an investigation into leaks at the Defense Department, a DoD official confirmed to Axios. The leaks under investigation include Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon, plus "military operational plans for the Panama Canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea ... and pausing the collection of intelligence to Ukraine," Politico reports. Dan Caldwell — a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and one of his closest friends in the building — was escorted out of the Pentagon as part of an "unauthorized disclosure" investigation, Reuters reported. Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, was also placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, the Defense Department official told Axios, confirming Politico reporting.

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Turmoil engulfs Pentagon

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is battling major upheaval inside the Pentagon — including a new report on his use of Signal, and the defection of a one-time close ally.

• Why it matters: Hegseth — tested in battle, but never atop government before this — needs to quickly stabilize one of the world's most consequential buildings and bureaucracies.

? Zoom in: In under a week, Hegseth's top leadership team has been overtaken by backstabbing reminiscent of President Trump's first term, Axios' Noah Bressner and Rebecca Falconer write.

• Former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot — who left the department last week — wrote in a Politico opinion piece last night: "The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it's becoming a real problem for the administration." (Ullyot says he resigned. A DOD official says Ullyot was pushed out.)

A N.Y. Times report last night revealed Hegseth "shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer." The Pentagon says: "There was no classified information in any Signal chat."

• Three top officials — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick — were fired after being placed on leave during an apparent internal investigation into "unauthorized disclosures of national security information."

Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, left his job for another role at the Defense Department.

Via X

? The intrigue: The three fired officials hit back at Hegseth's team Saturday, saying in a statement on X: "Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door."

• "At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with."

Via X

? Charlie Kirk — the influential MAGA podcaster, who has Trump's ear — tweeted last night: "Pete must stay."

ps:Like I've said more than once, it just gets better and better with this administration!! But that's what you get when putting people in charge of organizations that they have no right to be in charge of and just bending over to a person that thinks he is a king!!!!!

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Pete Hegseth

Last month, a national security scandal involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top officials rocked the Trump administration. Those officials were caught discussing a US military attack on Houthis in Yemen in a group chat on Signal, a conversation that inadvertently included a journalist. Despite sharing highly confidential — and likely classified — information on a commercially available app with a member of the media, none of those involved were punished for their actions. That chat is still under investigation. Now, it seems that wasn’t the only time such material was posted on the app. Hegseth reportedly created a second Signal group chat during his confirmation hearing and continued using it after he was confirmed. And he allegedly shared the same sensitive details about the airstrikes in the second group chat, which contained at least 12 people, including his wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer; his brother Phil; and lawyer Tim Parlatore, three people familiar with the chat told CNN.

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Hegseth's bunker

"I'll hook you up to a f--king polygraph!" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shouted at the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff last month, according to The Wall Street Journal.

• Hegseth suspected the acting chairman, Christopher Grady, of leaking his plans to give Elon Musk a classified briefing about China.
• The SecDef's suspicions later turned to other officials, whom he also threatened with a polygraph.

⚡️ Behind the scenes: President Trump has stood by his embattled Defense secretary as controversies have mounted.

• Hegseth has fired several institutional fixtures, including his office's scheduler and multiple generals. But he has also booted many of the close allies who helped him through the confirmation process and came with him to the Pentagon.

The turmoil has left him without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff or senior adviser, frustrating both Pentagon officials and GOP congressional offices who need to work with his office, per the Journal.

• Go deeper (gift link).

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Pentagon Insiders on Hegseth Leak Hypocrisy: “Full On S@#t Show”

Current and former Defense officials describe Pentagon unrest over accusations of leaks while their boss shares classified information.

https://theintercept.com/2025/04/25/pentagon-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-leaks-signal/?

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? Pentagon's climate bind

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will no longer "do climate change crap" — but the changing climate has a lot in store for the U.S. military, Axios Future of Defense author Colin Demarest reports. ⛈️ The big picture: Every competition and conflict is influenced by weather. Consider the forecasts ahead of D-Day in 1944, or Napoleon's ill-fated jaunt into Russia in 1812. There's broad consensus in the national security community that the threats from climate change are real, and dismissing them is dangerous. A Pentagon study published in 2019 found dozens of installations were vulnerable to current or future flooding, drought and wildfire. Go deeper.

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Hegseth

House Republicans tucked a provision into a rule that was approved Tuesday that effectively prevents Democrats from launching an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the commercial messaging app Signal. In March, Hegseth and other top officials discussed a US military attack on Houthis in Yemen in a group chat on Signal, a conversation that inadvertently included a journalist. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Hegseth had created a second group chat on his personal phone and allegedly shared details about those same airstrikes with at least 12 people, including his wife, brother and lawyer. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, was leading the charge for the so-called “resolutions of inquiry” to force a vote calling on President Donald Trump and Hegseth to turn over all communications about military operations against the Houthis in Yemen that were shared on the app. Due to the GOP’s rule change, however, Smith’s resolution won’t get a full chamber vote before September 30.

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Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20%

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered senior Pentagon leadership to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20% across the military, according to a memo signed by Hegseth dated Monday and obtained by CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/politics/hegseth-orders-pentagon-cut-senior-generals?

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Air defense scramble

Patriot missile interceptors are in high demand across the world. Image: Lockheed Martin The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are diminishing supplies of air defenses and raising concerns at the Pentagon, and around the world, about insufficient stockpiles. Militaries are burning through interceptors, and everyone wants more. But demand outstrips production, Axios' Colin Demarest reports. ? Worries about stateside stashes were apparently so severe that they necessitated a review of weapons deliveries worldwide. The Pentagon recently froze shipments of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, citing inventory concerns, before Trump at least partially reversed that move. Driving the news: The U.S. Army has increased its acquisition goal for the most advanced variant of Patriot interceptors to almost 14,000. That's quadruple the previous level for those interceptors, the Lockheed Martin-made PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement. Large exchanges can burn through stockpiles. The U.S. reportedly used 30 interceptors in one night shielding Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from an Iranian attack. Keep reading.

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CHART OF THE DAY

 

Over half of U.S. defense spending between 2020 and 2024 went to private contractors. (Source: Stephen Semler / Polygraph)

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Another top Hegseth adviser leaves the Pentagon

Justin Fulcher, a top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has left the Pentagon, Fulcher confirmed on Saturday.

https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/hegseth-pentagon-shakeup-justin-fulcher?

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The Pentagon Won’t Track Troops Deployed on U.S. Soil. So We Will.

In his first six months in office, President Donald Trump has overseen the deployment of nearly 20,000 federal troops on American soil, including personnel from the National Guard, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines, according to the Pentagon’s public statements.

https://theintercept.com/2025/07/22/military-troops-deployed-border-ice/?

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Pentagon Document: U.S. Wants to “Suppress Dissenting Arguments” Using AI Propaganda

The United States hopes to use machine learning to create and distribute propaganda overseas in a bid to “influence foreign target audiences” and “suppress dissenting arguments,” according to a U.S. Special Operations Command document reviewed by The Intercept.

https://theintercept.com/2025/08/25/pentagon-military-ai-propaganda-influence/?

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Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-immigration-judges-trump-pete-hegseth-b07950833591270b926ad86ede8b961f?

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?️ Pentagon pledge for reporters

Via X

The Pentagon — newly rebranded as the Department of War — announced new restrictions for journalists yesterday. Reporters will have to sign a pledge not to gather any information that hasn't been officially authorized for release. If they do so, they risk losing credentials to cover the Pentagon. "DoW remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust. However, DoW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified," a Pentagon document sent to media companies yesterday reads. The new rules also place restrictions on where journalists can go within the building, designating large areas of the Pentagon off-limits to reporters without escorts, The New York Times notes. Though many rooms and offices had previously been restricted, the press corps was granted unescorted access to much of the building Read the Pentagon document.

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Pentagon Bans Tech Vendors From Using China-Based Personnel After ProPublica Investigation

The Defense Department has tightened cybersecurity requirements for its cloud services providers. The changes come after ProPublica revealed how Microsoft’s use of China-based engineers left sensitive government data vulnerable to hacking.

https://www.propublica.org/article/pentagon-dod-microsoft-digital-escorts-china-ban-cybersecurity?

The Pentagon is tightening its control over officials' speaking engagements and other public appearances, Axios' Colin Demarest and Sara Fischer scoop. The Sept. 15 memo to senior Pentagon leadership, combatant commanders and other national-security leaders lays out what is and what isn't subject to an "enhanced framework for participating in external engagements."

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Top Military Brass Clash With Hegseth in New Pentagon Battle

The self-styled “war secretary” is expected to spell out his controversial new strategy in a meeting with generals.

Leading military chiefs have lashed out at Pete Hegseth’s plan to overhaul the country’s defense strategy, according to a report.

Multiple Pentagon leaders, including Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have raised concerns about the proposals set out by the self-styled “secretary of war.” The plans could be confirmed at an unprecedented meeting in Virginia on Tuesday to which former Fox News host Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals, according to a report in The Washington Post.

The issue stems from Hegseth’s plans to rewrite the National Defense Strategy (NDS) to list homeland defense as the nation’s top priority—rather than continuing to focus on global security threats from China, as it has for years—and to reduce the U.S. military presence in Europe and Africa.

Sources close to the rewriting of the NDS, which lays out U.S. military planning and strategy, told the Post that there are growing concerns within the military that Hegseth’s proposals are short-sighted and “potentially irrelevant” given Donald Trump’s often unpredictable and sometimes contradictory approach to foreign policy.

Caine has openly raised his objections to the plans with other Pentagon leaders, including policy chief Elbridge Colby, according to unnamed sources.

“He gave Hegseth very frank feedback,” one source told the Post. “I don’t know if Hegseth even understands the magnitude of the NDS, which is why I think Caine tried so hard.”

Caine is said to have wanted the NDS to remain focused on deterring and potentially defeating China in a conflict. Hegseth’s draft strategy does still mention China, but primarily in the context of its aggression toward Taiwan, according to the Post. Colby has also long feared that the U.S. is underprepared if China were to attack the country.

“There’s a concern that it’s just not very well thought out,” one former official told the newspaper about Hegseth’s China strategy.

Hegseth is also signalling that the Pentagon will move U.S. forces out of Europe, a move that could frustrate allies given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s incursions into NATO airspace.

The fallout from the NDS and chaos surrounding the Virginia meeting is the latest headache that Hegseth has caused during his tenure as Pentagon chief.

It was revealed that the former Fox News host is crumbling under the pressure of leading the Department of Defense, with insiders now complaining about his behavior. This includes being “obsessed” with his own security and appearing uncomfortable and fidgety during meetings.

“There’s a manic quality about him. Or let me rephrase, an even more manic quality, which is really saying something,” a source told the Daily Mail. “Dude is crawling out of his skin,” a second insider added.

“Secretary Hegseth has tasked the development of a National Defense Strategy that is laser focused on advancing President Trump’s commonsense America First, Peace Through Strength agenda,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Post. “This process is still ongoing.”

The NDS plans are expected to be discussed during an unusual meeting on Tuesday called by Hegseth, which he demanded top officers from American bases around the world attend in person.

Hegseth will use the meeting—which has been mocked as something that “could have been an email”—to discuss the “warrior ethos” mentality he wants instilled at the Pentagon.

Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii wrote a letter to Hegseth on Saturday asking why a “secure virtual alternative” was not considered instead of requiring hundreds of officers to leave their posts and attend in person.

The pair, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also raised concerns about the potential security risks of having an “unprecedented concentration of senior military leadership in one location” just to hear Hegseth speak about standards and ethos.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Pentagon and the White House for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-military-brass-clash-with-hegseth-in-new-pentagon-battle/?

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Pentagon Pete’s ‘Manic’ Meltdowns Exposed by Aides

The former Fox News host is reportedly spiraling out of control.

Pete Hegseth is crumbling under the pressure of leading the Pentagon.

The defense secretary—who prefers the moniker “Secretary of War”—is being described by staffers as “manic,” erupting into fits of rage and tumultuous tirades, the Daily Mail reported on Monday.

While he has reportedly always been temperamental, two staffers claim the former Fox News star’s mental state has reached new, frenzied heights after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month.

They said Hegseth is becoming increasingly “obsessed” with his own security and exhibits frantic behavior, such as fidgeting and pacing during meetings.

“There’s a manic quality about him. Or let me rephrase, an even more manic quality, which is really saying something,” an insider told the outlet.

“Dude is crawling out of his skin,” another source said.

The sources cited Hegseth’s increasingly erratic demands that have played out in public—most notably his recent order that every military official above the rank of one-star general fly in for a meeting in Virginia on Tuesday, even if stationed abroad.

The gathering is being described as a “pep rally,” where Hegseth will address military standards and the so-called “warrior ethos,” multiple people familiar with the planned event told The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Hegseth has introduced sweeping new guidelines restricting press access at his rebranded “Department of War.” According to the Mail, reporters now require express approval from the department to publish any information gathered at the Pentagon, and are forbidden from accessing most of the building without an escort.

Journalists must also sign compliance forms pledging to protect “sensitive information” and will lose their credentials if they violate the new rules.

When the crackdown was first announced, the Pentagon Press Association issued a blistering statement calling it “a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America’s right to know what its military is doing.”

Hegseth, 45, responded on X:

“The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon—the people do,” he began. “The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules—or go home.”

Also under scrutiny are Hegseth’s extensive personal security demands, which, according to the paper, are now straining the Army agency responsible for protecting him. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has reportedly pulled agents away from criminal probes in order to safeguard Hegseth’s residences in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.

Sources told the Mail that those security measures have, in part, been driven by Hegseth’s wife, former Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth, whose requests for protection go “far beyond” what’s been granted to other Trump administration officials.

“That warrior persona, he’s spooked,” they said.

When approached for comment, the Pentagon directed the Daily Beast to a statement spokesman Sean Parnell wrote to the Daily Mail: ”[We] receive all kinds [of] outrageous and untrue requests, but this might be the stupidest request we have received to date. You may be the least informed ‘journalist’ to ever report on the Pentagon. Your entire story is completely false.”

Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, also slammed the Mail story in an email to the Daily Beast. “The Daily Mail published a fictional essay that fails to meet any journalistic standards,” it reads. “The article contains publicly debunked claims, ‘sources’ that are fabricated, and a refusal to publish the statement provided by the Department spokesperson. Daily Mail should investigate and suspend the writer.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-aides-expose-pete-hegseths-manic-meltdowns/?

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Pete Hegseth had a lot to say when he summoned military leaders. Here are some facts and context Armed with a 10-point plan and pacing a stage in Quantico, Virginia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday enumerated for hundreds of assembled military leaders just how much of the force’s policy, philosophy and culture will change for more than 2 million Americans in uniform under President Donald Trump’s command. Here are some of Hegseth’s words with the context behind them. Read more.

What to know: Hegseth made the claim: “Any place where tried and true physical standards were altered, especially since 2015, when combat arms standards were changed to ensure females could qualify, must be returned to their original standard.” It’s not clear what Hegseth meant by returning physical expectations to their “original standard.” But military culture and the role of women have changed dramatically in recent decades.   “Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops. Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look,” Heseth said. Three-quarters of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not eligible for military service for several reasons, including extra weight. Some have debated whether the physical requirements demanded of service members across the board are still relevant or should be adjusted according to the job so the armed forces can maintain the pool of talent needed for today’s high-tech warfare.    The throughline of Hegseth’s remarks was that members of the military are there to, first and foremost, “unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy.” In terms of attitude, he said he expected aggressiveness and risk-taking and turning away from what he has called a “woke” culture that he said has weakened the military. But the modern American military isn’t just about fighting, it’s about diplomacy and problem-solving. That is why diversity and different perspectives help, said Rebecca Best, associate professor of political science at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Hegseth wants ‘male standard’ for combat roles. Many female veterans say that’s already the case   How ‘woke’ went from an expression in Black culture to a conservative criticism   Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost her legs in Iraq, calls for Hegseth’s resignation

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Pentagon Pete Finds a Surprise Ally With His Cringe-Worthy War Cry

Pete Hegseth’s frankly bizarre address to military top brass was heard as far away as Moscow.

Pete Hegseth’s war cry at Marine Corps Base Quantico may have drawn groans at home, but it landed with a strangely sympathetic echo in Moscow.

The former Fox News host turned defense secretary thundered before a crowd of generals and admirals on Tuesday and told them that America must “prepare for war” to “ensure peace.”

In one of the speech’s most toe-curling moments, Hegseth warned that adversaries who “challenge us” would be “crushed by the violence, precision, and ferocity of the War Department.” Then came his clumsy mic-drop line: “In other words, to our enemies, FAFO. If necessary, our troops can translate that for you.”

Aside from the ‘F--- around and find out line,’ his chest-thumping rhetoric sounded like Russian strongman posturing—and on Wednesday, the Kremlin practically nodded along.

“We, too, are committed to strengthening our Armed Forces while fully supporting peace,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, invoking the old maxim: “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Peskov added that Moscow is closely monitoring U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements, suggesting that Hegseth’s speech was not dismissed as mere bluster.

“Of course, we analyze all of President Trump’s statements with great attention,” Peskov told reporters.

The irony is thick. Hours after Hegseth channeled his inner drill sergeant, Trump himself jabbed at Vladimir Putin, mocking the Russian leader’s failure to secure a quick victory in Ukraine.

“You don’t look good. You’re four years fighting a war that should have taken a week. Are you a paper tiger?” Trump said, repeating a recent social media swipe.

The Kremlin brushed off Trump’s taunt, with Peskov insisting negotiations with Kyiv had stalled because Ukraine “was not rushing” to return to talks in Istanbul. Moscow has vowed to push ahead militarily despite Trump’s depiction of Russia as a flailing, hollowed-out power.

But Peskov’s alignment with Hegseth’s swagger underscored a shared worldview between Washington’s war hawks and the Kremlin’s top brass, who both believe saber-rattling secures peace.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pete-finds-a-surprise-ally-with-his-cringe-worthy-war-cry/?

ps:That should tell us something about what Russia thinks about the fools running this country now!!!!!

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Things to know about the Qatar training facility planned for an Idaho Air Force base

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — When U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday morning that the federal government had reached an agreement with Qatar to build a facility at an Air Force base in Idaho, social media posts began popping up online from people across the political spectrum expressing outrage at the concept of a foreign military base on American soil.

https://apnews.com/article/idaho-qatar-us-air-force-base-fc1506584e7833dbde3e16fe8613b6b4?

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Pentagon Pete Fires ‘Fat’ Soldiers as War on Weight Rages

Some Texas National Guard members were sent home from Illinois for not making the cut.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proudly shared the news Monday that some Texas National Guard troops who didn’t meet physical fitness standards have been replaced.

Hegseth, who has said that “fat troops” and “fat generals” are unbecoming of the U.S. military, declared that “standards are back” in his department after some members of the Texas National Guard showed up in Illinois, apparently overweight.

A photograph by the Associated Press’ Erin Hooley of Texas troops arriving just outside Chicago, where Donald Trump has been aiming to deploy them to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, went viral.

When asked whether any of the troops in the photograph were removed from duty, and if the photograph influenced any decision-making, the Texas Military Department gave the following statement to the Daily Beast:

“During the pre-mission validation process, the Texas National Guard identified and replaced seven service members who did not meet mission requirements. These service members were returned to home station. The Texas National Guard echoes Secretary Hegseth’s message to the force: ‘Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear.’”

“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission,” a department spokesperson told military news website Task & Purpose over the weekend. “The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced.”

The National Guard Bureau also issued a statement last Thursday, a few days after the viral photo was taken, emphasizing that “National Guard Soldiers and Airman are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times.”

“When mobilizing for active duty, members go through a validation process to ensure they meet those requirements,” the statement continued. “On the rare occasions when members are found not in compliance, they will not go on mission. They will be returned to their home station, and replacements who do meet standards will take their places.”

The Daily Beast reached out to the National Guard Bureau to see if the statement was in response to the viral photo, but was referred to the Texas Military Department.

Hegseth has made clear that a lack of fitness in the military is undesirable. After summoning hundreds of senior military officials from all over the world to Marine Corps University at Quantico late last month, Hegseth gave himself a pat on the back: “If the Secretary of War can do regular, hard PT, so can every member of our joint force.”

Hegseth, who loves to post photos and videos of his workouts with soldiers, clarified that “hot yoga and stretching” don’t count.

“Real, hard PT, either as a unit or an individual,” does, he said.

“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he added. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”

The Texas troops who have remained in Illinois have so far been prevented from deploying, after an appeals court judge last week put a temporary restraining order in place.

Judge April Perry said Thursday that she has “seen no credible evidence that there is a danger of a rebellion in the state of Illinois,” and that the Department of Homeland Security’s “perceptions of events are simply unreliable.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pentagons-pete-hegseth-fires-fat-soldiers-as-war-on-weight-rages/?

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Pentagon press limits hit a wall

News outlets are rejecting the Pentagon's effort to restrict press coverage, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.

• Conservative newsrooms Newsmax and the Washington Times joined a slew of national outlets in refusing to agree to the Defense Department's terms for press access.
• Fox News, in a joint statement with ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News, said the new policy "is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections."

? Where it stands: The Pentagon asked outlets to agree not to solicit or publish information that hasn't been publicly released, or risk losing their credentials to work inside the Pentagon.

• AP, Axios, The New York Times, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, among others, have all said they won't sign the agreement.
• So far only one outlet, the conservative cable network One America News, indicated that it planned to sign the pledge.

Go deeper.

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Retired General Torches Pentagon Pete’s Crackdown on Fox News

The station’s senior strategic analyst slams the defense secretary’s planned restrictions.

A retired general trashed Pete Hegseth’s attempts to restrict Pentagon press access for journalists as an attempt to “spoon-feed information” to reporters in a brazen attempt to control a story.

Appearing on Fox News’ Special Report on Tuesday, retired General Jack Keane, the station’s senior strategic analyst, and host Bret Baier were united in their condemnation of the Pentagon’s harsh new restrictions.

The restrictions, being promoted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, could see press credentials revoked for reporters attempting to glean information from officials.

Networks, including Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, issued a joint statement condemning the move. They claim the demand is “without precedent” and “would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues.”

Discussing the issue with Keane, Baier questioned Hegseth’s justifications and said journalists assigned to the Pentagon Press Corps are well aware of the risks of leaking classified information and the investigations that accompany it.

“At the White House, I never walked into the Oval Office or the Situation Room,” he said. “These are stipulations that essentially are changing the dynamic about how to get dynamic about how to get information and how they disseminate information.”

Keane, who also served as Vice Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, responded, “It doesn’t seem like the whole story is being told to our viewers here.

“What they’re really doing, they want to spoon-feed information to the journalists, and that will be their story. That’s not journalism. Journalism is going out and finding the story, and getting all the facts to support it. And that no one’s gonna walk in and bang on the door of a four-star general or senior civilian policy leader in the Pentagon.

He added, “I never had that. But I did have journalists chasing a story of something that was going on in the Army, and those things were legitimate. And if anything, what would frustrate us is the times we didn’t beat you to it. And we—something bad is happening, and we’re getting our act together, to do it. And sometimes, you know, well, let’s wait a couple of days before we talk about that, and you guys are on it.

“And that’s journalism.”

Keane said he had “never seen” anything like the level of press restriction being pushed by the current administration, which he said would also hamper generals’ abilities to answer questions and deal with the media in the long term.

“When I was a four-star general, I insisted that all our new brigadier generals get a class in a few days on what the role of the media is in an American democracy. I wanted them to practice and get interviews and how to deal with the realities of this, because they have they have all these incredible war-fighting skill sets, but dealing with the media isn’t one of them.”

Educating generals on how to engage with the media correctly is “very important to me,” he added, and said it was vital that military personnel “don’t see the media as something to be intimidated by.

“Were there times when stories were done that made me flinch a little bit? Yeah. But that’s usually because we had done something that wasn’t as good as we should have done it.”

Under the new rules, circulated last month, reporters are required to get approval from DoD staff before publishing any stories about the Pentagon, even if they contain unclassified information or sources. Failure to do so could result in reporters having their press credentials revoked.

Around 30 major news organizations have so far refused to sign the updated access policy for journalists, including The New York Times, Newsmax, The Washington Post, and ABC.

To date, pro-Trump mouthpiece One America News is the only organization that has signed the pledge.

In a statement on Monday, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “The policy does not ask for them to agree, just to acknowledge that they understand what our policy is. This has caused reporters to have a full-blown meltdown, crying victim online. We stand by our policy because it’s what’s best for our troops and the national security of this country.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/retired-general-torches-pentagon-pete-hegseths-crackdown-on-fox-news/?

[phkrause]

Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens of reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon on Wednesday rather than agree to government-imposed restrictions on their work, pushing journalists who cover the American military further from the seat of its power. The nation’s leadership called the new rules “common sense” to help regulate a “very disruptive” press.

https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-hegseth-trump-restrictions-5d9c2a63e4e03b91fc1546bb09ffbf12?