First Amendment: Press For Reversal of Pentagon Press Restrictions Now!

Today I take pen in hand to write and bring a serious First Amendment Rights issue: I’m alarmed about the new rules implemented by the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that severely restrict press access and threaten First Amendment protections. This cannot be allowed. These regulations have led many reputable news organizations, including The New York Times, NBC News, and Fox News, to refuse to sign on, effectively surrendering their press passes. So now-how will we know what illegal and anti-democratic things Hegseth and other officials are up to? What seditious and unsanctioned use of the military will they perform without press and Congressional oversight? You’ve seen the story: The extensive new rules, which replace a simple one-page agreement, impose strict limitations on journalists' access and introduce potential punishments for requesting information on matters of public interest. This shift from transparency to opacity is alarming and undermines the fundamental role of a free press in our democracy. Please call for a congressional inquiry into these new Pentagon rules and their impact on First Amendment rights. Additionally, I ask that you sponsor or co-sponsor legislation that would safeguard journalists' access to government facilities and information, particularly in matters of national security and defense. The press serves as a crucial check on government power, and these new restrictions set a dangerous precedent. By limiting media access, we risk losing vital oversight and the public's right to be informed about the operations of our military and defense apparatus. The fact that major news outlets across the political spectrum have united in opposition to these rules underscores the gravity of this issue. Time is of the essence. Every day these restrictions remain in place is another day our press freedoms are eroded. Please act swiftly to address this matter. Thank you.