“A well -informed citizen is in the heart of a dynamic democracy,” reads an quotation that is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, as it “provides the best defense against atrocities.”
recent restrictions The new enrolled department on news organizations directly comes out of the playbook of interested powerful people. On the eve of the 250th anniversary of signing the declaration of independence, Americans should deprive them of the information that they need to make the government accountable for their actions.
In January, a week after the Senate, Pete Hegseth confirmed as the Defense Secretary, he Extracted New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and NBC journalists handed over to them in the Pentagon. He gave slots instead of three conservative outlets: One US News Network, Breetbart and New York Post. In an attempt to show that the “annual media rotation program” was Nonpartison, he also chose Hafpost, a more progressive organization that did not request a place.
in February, Hegseth banned Except for all 90 reporters covering the Defense Department from the Pentagon briefing room, when government officials were making announcements or raising questions there. The room is one of some places of the building where journalists can use Wi-Fi to file stories and on-camera reports.
And in the 17-page memorandum released in September, Hegseth announced Permission to enter the Pentagon will be allowed only to reporters who signed a statement, promising not to publish classified information or called “controlled unpopular information”, until it was approved to release it by “a suitable officer”. Reporters cannot use unnamed military personnel as sources and should be with an official escort when in convenience. The Secretary warned that failure to follow these rules can cancel the suspension or access to the building.
Hegseth, who provided details of a adjacent US attack on Hauthis in Yemen group chat In April, it was claimed that restrictions were imposed as unauthorized revelations “could damage the United States national security and endanger personnel.”
George Orwell’s Diastopian novel, “1984,” in a version of “newspaper” by the Ministry of Truth in Hegseth Maintained Pentagon “is committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust. … ‘Press’ does not run the Pentagon – people do.”
It is worth noting that New York Times V. In UUS. (1971), Supreme Court refuse To prevent the publication of Pentagon letters to the federal government. “Any system of pre -restraint on expression,” declared majority, “a heavy estimate against its constitutional validity.” Justice Hugo Black announced, “Not the press -ruled, not the governor,” Justice Hugo Black announced.
And Smith vs. Daily Mail Publishing Company (1979), in the High Court Confirmed A news organization could not be punished for legally obtained about the case of public importance, even if the source was not authorized to share it, unless the government displays the national security interest “of the highest order”.
Pentagon’s policy in Lambasting, Mike Balsamo, President of National Press Club noted When news stories should be approved by the government, the public “only finds the officers who want to see them. It is every American alarm.”
Americans said that a group of Pravada newspapers does not want to avoid only the government official Post“Rape. Don Beckon (R-NEB), a former Air Force Brigadier General, who is not demanding re-election for the Congress in 2026.” An independent press makes our country better. But it sounds like amateur hours. … It is so dumb that I am true that this is true. ,
“Don’t ask, we tell“Whether or not a dumb policy may be, but it is certainly harmful and dangerous. All more because Republican colleagues of Beckon in the House and Senate have not condemned the rules.
Nor has he criticized the change in the White House in the creation of Press Pool, President Trump Punishment Associated press for Mexico failed to change the name of Gulf As the “Gulf of America”, and their priority to call right -wing reporters who ask “softball” questions at official and impromptu press conferences.
If the Republican politicians and the voters supporting them remain silent, then the freedom of the press – an essential feature of democratic societies – may soon be on life support in America
Glenn c. Thomas of American Studies and Dorothy Litvin Emeritus Professor at the University of Altschular Cornell.
