The Trump administration is putting new limits to the press access to the Pentagon: NPR

The American Ministry of Defense is implementing new restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced the changes In a memo on Friday. New policies considerably limit access to accredited media inside the Pentagon complex in Arlington, Virginia.

The restrictions prohibit journalists and other media from many regions of the Pentagon unless they are accompanied by an approved government escort. The limited areas include HegSeth offices, its best employees and the president of the joint staff chiefs.

Press members covering the American army historically had access to these newly limited areas through former republican and democratic presidential administrations.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, said in the note that the Pentagon adopts new media policies to protect national security:

“While the ministry remains attached to transparency, the ministry is also forced to protect [classified national intelligence information] and sensitive information – whose unauthorized disclosure could bring the lives of American soldiers in danger. “”

The Pentagon Press Association, an independent organization of the American government which represents the journalists who cover the army, expressed a profound concern in a press release shared with NPR.

“There is no way to do so sugar,” said the PPA board of directors in the press release. “The Memo of today of Secretary Hegseth seems to be a direct attack on press freedom and the law of America to know what its military does.”

The National Press Club urges the Pentagon to quickly reverse the course. Organization president Mike Balsamo said In a statement Friday“Restricrating access does not protect national security. He undermines public confidence”.

Restrictions are the last stage of the White House to limit access to journalists and to closely control the reports of journalists covering the Trump administration. In January, the Ministry of Defense canceled several major media in their work spaces dedicated to the Pentagon, including NPR. The following month, the White House revoked the ability of the Association of White House correspondents to decide how the media share the cover of President Trump during major events where space is limited.

Hegseth faced criticism after sharing sensitive military plans twice on his private phone via the signal messaging application. Michael Waltz, the national national security councilor, wrongly included a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of chief The Atlantic Reviewin one of the text channels.

Hegseth's memo on new restrictions indicates that journalists will have to complete a “explaining their responsibilities” form and receive a new diploma and a new badge with “clearer” press identifiers in the coming weeks. The opinion indicates that the skills securities will be issued under an “improved exam”.

Hegseth put an end to the note saying that it expects additional security measures to come.