Nearly a dozen major news organizations, spanning Conservative and Liberal leanings, including The Atlantic, Associated Press, Axios, CNN, Guardian, Newsmax, New York Times, NPR, Reuters, Washington Post, and Washington Times, have rejected new rules and restrictions imposed on Pentagon journalists by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These rules, which reporters must pledge to follow by Tuesday or risk losing their Pentagon press passes, have been condemned by the Pentagon Press Association as a First Amendment violation. The association argues the restrictions aim to “gag Pentagon employees and threaten retaliation against journalists seeking unapproved information.” Media outlets view this “pledge” as part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts since January to curb public access to information about the Pentagon and U.S. Armed Forces. Only One America News (OAN) has agreed to sign the pledge.

It’s encouraging to see nearly all major news outlets, regardless of political alignment, united in rejecting this clear assault on First Amendment rights, demonstrating their commitment to journalistic integrity.