Freedom of press

Judge: Pentagon Violated Press Access Order

Is Hegseth's Pentagon press crackdown dangerous authoritarianism or a necessary security measure that actually worked?

Published APR 10

Judge: Pentagon Violated Press Access Order

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Above: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on April 8. Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

Hegseth's press crackdown is a blatant power grab dressed up as security policy, and restricting reporters from doing anything but repeating what officials approve is flat-out authoritarianism. A $1 trillion department must be answerable to taxpayers and has to comply with the judge's order to assure transparency.

Freedom of the Press Foundation on X Pittsburgh Post

Pro-Trump narrative

The Pentagon had good reason to restrict press access, as leaks dried up until a judge forced reporters back in. That's not a coincidence; that's proof Hegseth's policy was working exactly as intended. The Pentagon should win on appeal because it has every right to control who roams a secure federal facility.

Sean Parnell on X

Gina Milan on X