Major Media Outlets Denied Access to Exclusive Pentagon News Briefings Reaching Millions

Outlets Reaching Millions Denied Access to Rare Pentagon News Briefings

Several mainstream news organizations with large audiences have been barred from attending exclusive Pentagon briefings this week. These sessions are reserved for media outlets personally selected by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Both the Senate and House Armed Services committees are currently investigating recent U.S. military strikes targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Despite the high public interest, many major news outlets remain excluded from insider briefings.

Hegseth’s office described the events as orientation meetings for a newly credentialed press corps, made up largely of conservative-aligned organizations that accepted strict new reporting rules. These rules, deemed “common sense” by the Pentagon, aim to prevent classified information leaks but have faced criticism for limiting independent coverage.

Most mainstream outlets declined to accept the new conditions and departed from Pentagon press gatherings in the fall. They feared the regulations would effectively restrict reporting to information approved by Hegseth’s team.

Despite exclusion from in-person briefings, journalists continue to cover Pentagon developments independently. The Washington Post revealed that a second strike on a suspected drug smuggling boat was ordered after an initial attack failed to eliminate all targets—a move President Trump denied. Some commentators have labeled this strike a potential war crime if allegations prove true.

Requests for special briefing access by The Post, The Associated Press, CNN, Reuters, Newsmax, and Agence France-Presse were all denied. AFP’s North America director Marc Lavine condemned the decision, stating, “Denying access to briefings to credible and nonpartisan news media… is not conducive to transparency for the American public.”

The Pentagon press office clarified that the briefings are for credentialed press only but did not specify if future sessions would allow broader media access. Regular Pentagon briefings have largely disappeared since Trump’s second term began. Access to livestreams of these new briefings has also been reportedly blocked.

Newcomers to the Pentagon press corps, including Trump ally Laura Loomer and One America News representatives, proudly shared photos of themselves occupying formerly mainstream media desks. Meanwhile, established reporters noted how these spaces have been largely empty for weeks.

The Daily Signal’s Rob Bluey expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the need for credential regulations but emphasizing the importance of transparency for the American people. He noted that historically, his outlet also faced access denials before the current administration.

This development marks a significant shift in Pentagon media relations, raising questions about press freedom and public insight into military affairs at a time of active congressional investigations.