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Subramanyam slams restrictions on Pentagon Press
Subramanyam said Hegseth’s 17-page agreement sought to coerce reporters into accepting unprecedented controls over their coverage
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 17, Oct 2025
- 14:01 EDT
- 23
Virginia State Senator Suhas Subramanyam / Wikipedia
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to impose restrictive conditions on the Pentagon Press Corps.
Calling it “an attack on freedom of the press, the First Amendment, and democracy,” Subramanyam said Hegseth’s 17-page agreement sought to coerce reporters into accepting unprecedented controls over their coverage.
Also Read: Rep. Subramanyam moves to aid federal workers during shutdown
The agreement circulated by the Department of Defense requires journalists with Pentagon credentials to operate under escort, submit reporting for review, and risk credential revocation for non-compliance.
Major outlets including the Associated Press, The Washington Post, Fox News, and Newsmax refused to sign the agreement. Many outlets have called the terms a direct violation of journalistic independence and the principle of a free press.
“Rather than attacking the messengers of his failed policies, Secretary Hegseth should instead consider doing more to support servicemembers and their families and keep our country safe,” Subramanyam said.
According to reports, several media organizations vacated their Pentagon press offices after refusing to sign the document, while only a handful of outlets, including One America News Network, agreed to the restrictions.
The Pentagon Press Association, representing over 100 journalists, issued a formal protest, calling the policy “unprecedented” in modern defense reporting. The Pentagon defended the rules as measures to safeguard sensitive information, though critics say the justification is an overreach that undermines accountability.
Under Hegseth’s tenure, the Pentagon has already tightened access for reporters, reduced press briefings, and restricted movement within the building.The standoff marks one of the most significant confrontations between the Pentagon and the press in recent years.
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