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By Jason Lemon and Dan Gooding
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Fox News has joined other major media outlets in rejecting and criticizing a new Pentagon press access policy put forward by President Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who previously worked as a contributor and co-host at Fox News.
"The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections," Fox News said in a statement emailed to Newsweek, which was joined by ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon told Newsweek via email: "We stand by our policy because it's what's best for our troops and the national security of this country.”
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Why It Matters
The Pentagon has been fielding concerns from media outlets in recent weeks over its plans to change its policies around reporting on goings on at the Department of Defense's HQ. The decision by Fox News to speak out against the plans, as a right-leaning outlet, may come as more of a blow to the Trump administration than from legacy media often denounced by the current White House.
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What to Know
The main issue around the policy comes down to how information is shared with reporters. The initial plan called for all department information, whether classified or not, to be run past Pentagon officials before an outlet could be allowed to publish an article.
In the statement shared with Newsweek by Fox News, the group of media outlets said: "Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.”
Fellow conservative media outlets Newsmax and The Washington Times announced on Monday that they would not sign the new policy put forward by the Trump administration.
“Newsmax has no plans to sign the letter," a spokesperson told Newsweek. "We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”
A spokesperson for NewsNation and The Hill also told Newsweek on Tuesday that the media outlets will not be signing on.
The policy was revised last week, after pushback from media organizations, to say that members of the media were not required to submit their writings, but that U.S. military personnel could face "adverse consequences" if they made unauthorized disclosures to reporters. Reporters could then be viewed as security risks and have their access revoked.
Outlets were given one week from last Monday to sign up to the new policy, with Newsmax, among other outlets, declaring on October 13 that they would not be signing.
The Washington Post's Executive Editor Matt Murray said in a statement that the Pentagon's efforts undermined the First Amendment. A post on X from the Post's communications department on the decision prompted a repost from Hegseth with a waving emoji, seeming to signal saying goodbye to its reporters.
The developments follow a series of restrictive measures implemented by Hegseth and senior Pentagon leadership. In late January, four outlets had their desks cleared in favor of newer media organizations. In May, much of the Pentagon was declared off limits to reporters unless they had an official escort.
The DOD is not alone in making such moves, with the White House being challenged earlier this year over its effort to ban the Associated Press from briefings.
President Donald Trump has also frequently denounced reporters from legacy organizations, while his press secretary has made efforts to include newer media organizations, largely those seen to lean right.
Pete Hegseth's Fox News Connection
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Hegseth was a prominent host and contributor on Fox News. He first joined the popular television network in 2014 as a contributor and later became a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend.
Prior to joining Fox News, Hegseth earned degrees from Princeton and Harvard and served in the U.S. Army National Guard. During his military service, he was deployed to active duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Defense Secretary earned two Bronze Star Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) and the Joint Commendation Medal for his service.
What People Are Saying
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Newsweek on Tuesday: "In every step of the process establishing common sense media procedures for Pentagon press, representatives from outlets like the New York Times, CNN, and others have expressed their gratitude for our efforts. Yet at the last minute, they have decided to move the goal post and refuse to sign the policy because of a single issue: a line that says they 'understand' what our policies are. 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.”
Matt Murray, executive editor at The Washington Post, in a statement shared to X Monday: "Journalists from The Washington Post will not be signing the Pentagon’s new press access policy. The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information. We will continue to vigorously and fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon and officials across the government."
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief at The Atlantic, in a statement to the New York Times on Monday: "The Atlantic’s journalists will not sign the Pentagon’s press policy. We fundamentally oppose the restrictions that the Trump administration is imposing on journalists who are reporting on matters of defense and national security. The requirements violate our First Amendment rights, and the rights of Americans who seek to know how taxpayer-funded military resources and personnel are being deployed. We will continue to cover matters of defense, war, and national security independently and fairly."
What's Next
With concerns still being raised around the new policy, it remains to be seen whether reporters at the Pentagon will have their access credentials revoked.
Update, 10/14/25 at 1:50 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update, 10/14/25 at 4:39 p.m. ET: The story was updated with additional information.
Update, 10/14/25 at 5:01 p.m. ET: A statement from the Pentagon was added.
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