Pentagon’s New Press Corps Draws Fire After Mass Walkout by Legacy Media
The Pentagon announced Wednesday that its “next generation” press corps will consist almost entirely of conservative-leaning news organizations after dozens of mainstream journalists turned in their credentials over what they call government censorship.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office confirmed that new press access has been granted to outlets like The Gateway Pundit, The National Pulse, Human Events, podcaster Tim Pool, Just the News founder John Solomon, Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, and LindellTV, owned by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
The announcement came days after reporters from The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press refused to comply with new restrictions that require Pentagon coverage to be pre-approved by Hegseth’s team. The exodus leaves the Department of Defense without most of the reporters who have historically covered its operations from inside the building.
“Self-Righteous Media” and “Fresh Relationships”
Hegseth’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, celebrated the departures on X, mocking the journalists who left as the “self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.”
“Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists,” Parnell wrote. “We look forward to beginning a fresh relationship with members of the new Pentagon press corps.”
Despite his rhetoric, the walkouts included not just traditionally liberal publications but also Fox News and Newsmax—outlets that often appeal to the same conservative base Hegseth has championed.
Transparency Concerns Grow
Critics warn that the new policy effectively narrows public access to the truth about the U.S. military. Veteran Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr, formerly of CNN, called the change “a disservice to American military families.”
“Reporters will have to work harder, there’s no question about it,” Starr said. “But the real price is paid by the American people and the military families who deserve timely, independent reporting.”
Columnist Maureen Dowd blasted Hegseth as a “Fraidy-Cat at the Pentagon,” questioning what the Defense Secretary “is so afraid of.”
President Donald Trump has publicly supported the new media structure. His administration has repeatedly targeted major outlets with lawsuits, claiming unfair coverage of both the president and his cabinet.
Conservative Outlets Expand to Fill the Void
Some of the new Pentagon-approved outlets have begun recruiting to meet the demand of their expanded roles. Just the News posted a job listing for a Pentagon correspondent, while The Gateway Pundit’s Jordan Conradson said he was “excited to help restore honest journalism after agreeing to follow basic rules—something the legacy media refuses to do.”
Lindell, whose political platform has grown since his departure from Fox News advertising, said his network is “proud to be part of a new generation of news organizations reshaping how real information reaches the public.”
As the Hegseth-era Pentagon reshapes its relationship with the press, critics fear that “real information” might now mean only what the government allows to be reported.
