Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued an order that places restrictions on journalists' access to the Pentagon building. 

Fox News reports that Hegseth made the move on Friday.

According to Hegseth, the move is necessary to protect the country's national security. The order can be read in its entirety here.

We’re announcing additional credentialing procedures for press at the Pentagon in the interest of national security. pic.twitter.com/2fQA4z7AsO

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 23, 2025

The details

It appears that most of what Hegseth is doing is making certain parts of the Pentagon more difficult for reporters to get access to.

The Washington Examiner explains:

Journalists will no longer be allowed near Hegseth's physical office spaces and the Joint Staff physical office spaces “without an official approval and escort from the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs," the memo said. They will also no longer be allowed in the Pentagon's Athletic Center.

It continues, "Pentagon press members will also be issued new badges with a clearer "press" indicator and be required to complete a form explaining their responsibilities to protect classified and sensitive information."

These are not the first press changes that Hegseth has made.

Previously, Fox reports that "the Pentagon has also required legacy news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, NPR, CNN and NBC News, to vacate their office spaces in the building as part of a new rotation system to bring in other outlets . . ."

Why are these changes being made now?

Hegseth, in his announcement, said that he is "announcing addition credentialing procedures for press at the Pentagon in the interest of national security."

In the memo, he wrote:

While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect [Classified National Security Information] and sensitive information - the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger

Some, including the Pentagon Press Association, are criticizing the Trump administration for the change.

The association put out a statement, writing:

The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security. But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership.

This all comes after the Pentagon had an issue with the leaking of information.