Only with an official companion will be allowed to circulate accredited journalists in the US Pentagon. This is the new – and probably not the last – restrictive measure taken by the government of Donald Trump For the media.
US Secretary of Defense Pitt Hegsheth issued a mandate, demanding that accredited journalists be officially accompanied by much of the Pentagon building, which clearly puts new difficulties in the work of journalists from the day Donald took over.
The measures, which come into force immediately, prohibit accredited journalists to access most of the Ministry of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia, unless they have official approval and escort.
“The ministry remains committed to transparency, but it is also obliged to protect the classified and sensitive information, the unauthorized revelation of which could endanger military life,” Hegsheth said in a memorandum.
The minister described the protection of classified information and operational security “a steadfast check for the ministry”.
“Immediate attack on the freedom of the press”
The Pentagon Press Union, which represents the interests of journalists, who cover issues related to the US Army, said the new rules seem to be a “immediate attack on press freedom”.
“The decision is supposed to be based on worries about business security. But accredited journalists had access to unsafe places in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and democratic governments, including the attacks of September 11, 2001, without any concern about national security by the ministry’s leadership, “he added.
Responding to a request for a comment, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnel said: “These updated measures are a necessary step in protecting sensitive information and to protect US services from risks that can be avoided.”
Trump and the media
After President Donald Trump returned to power in January, the Pentagon has launched an investigation into leaks that have resulted in three executives being put on administrative leave.
He also demanded from major media organizations, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the CNN and the NBC News, to leave their offices in the Pentagon that occupied the government -friendly media, such as the New York Post, Breitbart, Daily Caller and One America Network.
The Trump government also intends to use lies to investigate leaks, and some ministry security officials are in danger of being fired because they have refused to undergo the test, according to Reuters. The White House says Trump will not tolerate the media leaks and that federal employees who do them will have to be held accountable.