Fox, CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS jointly reject Pentagon reporting guidelines

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Oct 14, 2025

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Cable news networks CNN and Fox News joined the news divisions of ABC, NBC and CBS in rejecting the Pentagon’s efforts to manage coverage on the Department of Defense.

“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 five outlets said in a joint statement Tuesday.

“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.”

The Defense Department last month launched an initiative to curtail journalists’ abilities to gather or report information not authorized by the government.

News agencies were given until 5 p.m. Tuesday to accept the Pentagon’s terms. Outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Reuters and NPR had previously said they wouldn’t cooperate with Pentagon officials’ efforts to curb reporting.

MAGA network OAN told the New York Times that it had agreed to the defense department’s terms.

Secretary of War and former weekend Fox News host Pete Hegseth on Monday replied to statements posted by news agencies rejecting his conditions with an emoticon of a hand waving goodbye.

Reporters who don’t adhere to the Pentagon’s conditions were told in September that they would risk losing their press credentials. Defense officials seemed to soften that position last week by stating journalists wouldn’t have to submit their reporting for government approval, according to the Times. However, reporters deemed “security risks” may see their access to the Pentagon restricted.

“Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right,” Hegseth posted online Monday.

The Atlantic said in a statement rejecting Hegseth’s terms that “The requirements violate our First Amendment rights and the rights of Americans to know how taxpayer-funded military resources and personnel are being deployed.”

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