How the Pentagon is trying to control the narrative

The Defense Department oversees the country’s armed forces and commands a nearly $1 trillion budget in 2026. A departure from longstanding norms and Constitutionally guaranteed media access at the Pentagon carries significant implications for press freedom in the United States as well as for public understanding of the impact of U.S. military spending and actions.

Here are five things you need to know about how the Defense Department is restricting press freedom in the United States:

1. Pentagon restricts access – In fall 2025, the Pentagon in a memo introduced new policies and procedures to restrict media access within the Pentagon building. The memo was later updated to say that reporters’ press credentials could be revoked if they violate the new policies, which included a ban on soliciting classified information and “controlled unclassified information” from personnel. Journalists credentialed with the Pentagon were also required to sign a written acknowledgement of policy changes or risk having their credentials revoked. This policy change would stymie the free flow of information and make it incredibly difficult for journalists to do their job without fear of retaliation for potentially breaking with the new policy. In response, the majority of Pentagon reporters walked out of the building in protest. 

2. Prolonged legal battles – In response to these new measures, the New York Times filed a lawsuit, listing one of its reporters as a plaintiff and arguing that the new accreditation policy violated journalists’ First Amendment rights. A federal judge sided with the New York Times, though the Pentagon then created a new accreditation policy and appealed the decision. The court battle is ongoing.  

3. Threat of regulatory pressures – In a April 7, 2026 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump warned that broadcasters airing what he described as “fake news” about U.S. military actions should “correct course” ahead of license renewals. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr quote-tweeted Trump, saying that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they do not operate in the public interest, a comment he later attempted to roll back. Given the current political environment and other threats of retaliatory action from the FCC, which Carr heads, these types of comments create a chilling effect around coverage of U.S. military activity. 

4. Limited access during wartime – The Pentagon barred photographers from Iran war press briefings in retaliation for what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staff perceived to be unflattering photographs, the Washington Post reported on March 11, 2026. This decision limited the public’s ability to understand the dynamics of Hegseth’s future press conferences and also sent a message to photojournalists and reporters more broadly that access is maintained through favorable coverage. During his rare press briefings, the defense secretary has also taken a combative tone with reporters over critical coverage or lines of questioning.  

5. Military news outlets under pressure – The Defense Department said on January 15, 2026, that it will overhaul the military newspaper Stars & Stripes to “refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale.” Applicants for jobs at the newspaper have also been asked to lay out their commitment to policy initiatives of President Donald Trump. While approximately half of Stars & Stripes funding comes from the Pentagon budget, the paper has long enjoyed traditional editorial independence. Seeking to control the outlet’s reporting is part of a larger attempt by the Pentagon to shape the narrative about military events.