National Press Club Warns Pentagon Move to Strip Reporter Access Strikes at the Heart of Press Freedom

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Press Club President Mike Balsamo today issued a statement on new restrictions that forced dozens of Pentagon journalists to surrender their credentials:

"The National Press Club condemns the Pentagon's unprecedented move to strip dozens of journalists of access, a sweeping action that strikes at the heart of press freedom and public accountability.

For generations, reporters have walked the halls of the Pentagon not as guests, but as representatives of the American people — asking hard questions on behalf of those who serve in uniform. To shut them out is to shut out the public itself. This is not a matter of policy or protocol. It is an assault on transparency and an erosion of democratic norms.

The Pentagon may close its doors to reporters, but it cannot close the public's right to know.

Independent coverage of the U.S. military is essential to public trust and oversight. A Pentagon that limits scrutiny limits understanding — and weakens the very institution it seeks to protect. The First Amendment does not stop at the Pentagon's gates.

The National Press Club calls on the Department of Defense to immediately restore full access for independent journalists and recommit to the principles that have long distinguished this country from governments that fear their own press.

When history looks back on this day, it should see a press that refused to yield and a public that demanded answers. The people's right to know endures — with or without the Pentagon's permission."

About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy.

Contact: Bill McCarren for the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club
202-662-7534 | [email protected] 

SOURCE National Press Club