"The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security. But the #Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican & Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about #OpSec from #DoD leadership," the stmnt said.

#law #democracy #FreePress #transparency #accountability #SomethingToHide #authoritarianism #autocracy #Trump

#Hegseth called the protection of #classified national #intelligence information & operational security "an unwavering imperative for the Department” [not in this admin].

The #Pentagon Press Association, a membership organization representing the interests of the #press corps covering the US #military, said the new rules appeared to be a "direct attack on the freedom of the press."

#law #democracy #FreePress #transparency #accountability #SomethingToHide #authoritarianism #autocracy #Trump