DELAWARE - Delaware Sen. Chris Coons is helping lead legislation that would restore journalists' access to the Pentagon and place new limits on how the Department of Defense can restrict press.
Senators said the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act would restore press access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible before 2025 restrictions were put in place by Secretary Pete Hegseth, including Correspondents' Corridor. In addition, the act would also renew unescorted press access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible without an escort prior to the 2025 restrictions.
The bill would require the defense secretary to ensure the integrity of the Pentagon credentialing process. Security reviews for press credentials would be conducted by career staff with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency without unnecessary delays or political influence. It would also prohibit changes to Pentagon press access, including changes to workspaces, access areas and press credentials, without prior consultation with Congress.
“The First Amendment and a free press aren’t sidelined during a time of war, they become more important than ever. Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has hidden from the American people and their representatives in the press, denying the public critical information about the war in Iran and our own security here at home,” said Coons. “Congress must pass this legislation swiftly and restore the press’ ability to accurately and transparently report on the Pentagon’s activity.”
Coons joined Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and 13 other senators in introducing the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act. Senators said, since taking office, Secretary Hegseth imposed a series of unreasonable and retaliatory restrictions on credentialed journalists’ access to the Pentagon and their ability to report.
“At a time of war, transparency and independent, accurate reporting matter more than ever,” said Schatz. “Our bill will reverse the Pentagon's effort to shut out the free press and make sure the public gets the information it deserves.”
In addition to Sen. Chris Coons and Sen. Brian Schatz, the bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff of California, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.
Pete Hegseth originally issued the restrictions via a posting on X in May 2025 saying they were necessary for national security. This order restricted areas, including Hegseth's office and those of his top aides and all of the different locations across the mammoth building where the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Space Force maintain press offices.
“While the department remains committed to transparency, the department is equally obligated to protect (classified intelligence information) and sensitive information, the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. service members in danger,” wrote Hegseth.
Later that year, in September, Hegseth ordered journalists who cover the Defense Department at the Pentagon to no longer gather or report information, even if it is unclassified, unless it’s been authorized for release by the government. Reporters who didn't sign a statement agreeing to the new rules would have their press credentials revoked. Trump backed these new rules.
“I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace,” said Trump. “The press is very dishonest.”
Dozens of reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon rather than agree to government-imposed restrictions. News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting the new rules that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information that had not been approved by Hegseth for release.
