Senate Democrats have put forward a bill to overturn media restrictions imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. They argue these restrictions hinder independent reporting. The bill, named the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act, was introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). It aims to reinstate the journalists’ access that existed before Hegseth’s measures. This includes bringing back the ‘Correspondents’ Corridor,’ a workspace used by national security reporters.
The bill is likely to face challenges in the GOP-led Senate. If passed, it would allow reporters unescorted access to areas of the department that were open before late 2025. This was when the Trump administration’s restrictions were enacted. Schatz stated, “At a time of war, transparency and independent, accurate reporting matter more than ever. Our bill will reverse the Pentagon’s effort to shut out the free press and make sure the public gets the information it deserves.” The Pentagon chose not to comment on the pending legislation.
In addition to Schatz, the bill’s co-sponsors include Senators Adam Schiff, Jeanne Shaheen, Jon Ossoff, Chris Van Hollen, Tammy Duckworth, Tim Kaine, Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Coons, Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Jacky Rosen. Under Hegseth’s directive, the Pentagon introduced new credentialing rules and escort mandates, citing the need to prevent unauthorized leaks of classified information. The New York Times has twice taken legal action against the Pentagon, claiming these restrictions violate the First Amendment.
Recently, a federal appeals court permitted the Pentagon to temporarily require escorts for reporters, overturning a prior ruling that paused the requirement. The proposed legislation would also shift the responsibility of security reviews for reporters to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.