BREAKING: Pete Hegseth Confirms Pentagon Crackdown — Journalists to Face New Restrictions Amid “Fake News” Leak Concerns

In a move that’s sending shockwaves through Washington, Fox News host Pete Hegseth has confirmed reports that the Pentagon will no longer allow journalists to freely roam the building, introducing new access rules designed to “restore integrity and protect national security.”

Under the new policy, reporters must now wear special access badges, be accompanied by authorized escorts, and adhere to strict prohibitions on soliciting classified or sensitive information from Defense Department personnel. The measures, according to officials cited by Hegseth, aim to curb internal leaks and “cut off the pipeline of politically motivated misinformation.”

A “Post-Leak” Era for Defense Reporting

Speaking on Fox & Friends, Hegseth said the Pentagon’s decision reflects growing frustration with how “some media outlets have weaponized leaks and distorted truth for clicks.”

“This isn’t about censorship — it’s about accountability,” Hegseth stated.

“If journalists want to report from the Pentagon, they’ll do it the right way: transparently, responsibly, and with respect for national security.”

The announcement follows a series of high-profile intelligence breaches and media controversies, including the unauthorized publication of sensitive defense briefings earlier this year. Officials say these incidents have eroded trust between the Department of Defense and the press corps, prompting the new clampdown.

Mixed Reaction in Washington

While some defense insiders welcome the policy as “long overdue,” press freedom advocates have expressed alarm.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press released a statement calling the move “a dangerous step toward information control.”

“Restricting physical access to public institutions under the guise of security can easily become a slippery slope toward government secrecy,” the group warned.

However, Hegseth pushed back against critics, insisting that the reforms won’t silence journalists, but rather ensure “accuracy over agenda.”

“Leaks are not journalism,” he added. “Truth is earned through verification — not through anonymous whispers.”

Inside the New Rules

According to leaked memos cited by The Daily Signal, the updated Pentagon media policy includes:

• Badge-based zoning, restricting journalists to designated corridors and briefing rooms.

• Mandatory escorts for interviews conducted outside media zones.

• Real-time monitoring of press interactions for potential violations.

• Revocation of credentials for any journalist found soliciting restricted information.

These guidelines are expected to take effect immediately, with full enforcement by the end of the quarter.

A Symbol of a Larger Battle

Analysts view the decision as part of a broader cultural clash between the media establishment and conservative critics who accuse the press of bias, sensationalism, and “anti-American framing.”

“Pete Hegseth has long positioned himself as a defender of traditional values and institutional loyalty,” said media analyst Craig Stone. “By aligning with the Pentagon’s new transparency model, he’s sending a message: accountability cuts both ways.”

Still, many question whether such policies will genuinely promote truth — or simply restrict scrutiny.

What Comes Next

As the Pentagon implements its new media control system, journalists and watchdog groups are preparing for a potential showdown over press access vs. national security.

For Hegseth, the line is clear: “Freedom of the press doesn’t mean freedom to leak.

We’ve reached a point where protecting the truth means protecting the building itself.”

With the policy now in motion, one thing is certain — the era of free-roaming journalism inside the Pentagon is over.