Incident
United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025
Beginning on October 15, 2025, reporters from at least 30 news organizations vacated the press workspace at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, rather than sign the department's new credential pledge, with a deadline of October 17 to remove their belongings. They included ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR and Politico. One America News Network said it would sign. As of 2026-09-22, most of these outlets cover the Pentagon from outside the building.1
What happened
Beginning on October 15, 2025, reporters from at least 30 news organizations began vacating the press room at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, removing equipment and furniture rather than sign the credential pledge the department issued on September 21, 2025. The deadline to remove belongings was October 17, 2025.213
The outlets that declined included ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR and Politico. One America News Network was reported as the only major outlet to accept the terms.213
Military Times and Defense News, two publications that cover the United States armed forces and were among the outlets that declined, said the policy "threatens to punish reporters who ask legitimate questions in the course of their daily work."213
Status as of 2026-09-22: Partly in effect. The New York Times sued the Department of Defense on December 4, 2025. On March 20, 2026, United States District Judge Paul Friedman ruled that the credential-revocation provisions violated constitutional protections and ordered credentials restored for seven Times journalists. After the department issued revised restrictions, Friedman wrote on April 9, 2026 that it "simply cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action," and the department appealed. Most other outlets cover the Pentagon from outside the building.3
What reason was given
Stated justificationThe Department of Defense gave no separate reason for requiring the pledge as a condition of the badge. It described the underlying rules as "an important step in preventing leaks that damage operational security and national security."213
What changed for reporting
Reporters from most major news organizations lost routine access to the Pentagon building and its press workspace, and cover the department from outside it (as of 2026-09-22).2
Timeline
2025
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Pete Hegseth | enforced | United States Secretary of Defense |
| United States Department of Defense | enforced | Federal executive department |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| ABC News | outlet | affected |
| CBS News | outlet | affected |
| Military Times / Defense News | outlet | affected |
| The Associated Press | outlet | affected |
Sources
- Pentagon press restrictions: what outlets are doing
- 2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture archived copy
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- Reporters began vacating the Pentagon press workspace rather than sign the new rules, with a deadline of 2025-10-17 to remove belongings.
On October 15, reporters began vacating the press room at the Pentagon removing computer servers, furniture, television screens, soundproofing equipment and other items.
2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 93, checked 2026-09-22. - Nearly all major U.S. news organizations forfeited their Pentagon badges rather than sign the pledge.
This policy threatens to punish reporters who ask legitimate questions in the course of their daily work.
2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 5, checked 2026-09-22. - No mass reinstatement of Pentagon credentials has been reported.
The court imposed a permanent injunction, and ordered the restoration of press credentials and access for the New York Times journalists.
2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 94, checked 2026-09-22.