US EditionPentagon Blocks Own Newspaper From Covering Press Conference
The Pentagon barred Stars and Stripes from a press briefing amid new content rules requiring 'good order and discipline,' raising First Amendment concerns, press advocates said.
- On March 19, 2026, the Department of Defense barred Stars and Stripes from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's briefing, and reporter Matthew Adams said he would watch on a screen after being denied approval.
- Earlier this month, the Department of Defense issued an eight-page modernization plan for Stars and Stripes that imposed new content rules and limits on wire service and syndicated features.
- With only 60 seats available, the Pentagon allowed one representative per outlet and could not accommodate Stars and Stripes, a Pentagon spokesperson told HuffPost Thursday.
- Stars and Stripes employees face unique disciplinary risks for their content, and Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief, said Pentagon phrasing this month is concerning.
- Hegseth's Iran update included criticism of the press and announced a $200 billion request amid this month’s clampdown on Stars and Stripes.
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12 Articles
kreiszeitung.de
"Stars and Stripes is part of the Pentagon's media work and is partly funded by the Ministry. Nevertheless, reporters are excluded.
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Military’s Stars and Stripes barred from Pentagon press update: reporter
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday barred the department’s own Stars and Stripes from attending his most recent press conference, the Daily Beast reports. So far, no reason has been given.“Stars and Stripes was not approved by the Pentagon to attend this press conference. I will be watching it on a screen instead,” said an X post from Matthew Adams, a journalist at the media outlet.Stars and Stripes was first published in 1861, and has b…
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