The Era of Spies Masquerading as Journalists Is Over — Secretary Hegseth Is Right to Protect the Pentagon

By Oladigbo Oluwasogo Olalekan

The recent directive issued by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth requiring journalists to sign a document prohibiting the publication of both classified and unclassified Pentagon materials has sparked intense debate across the media landscape. Major outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, and Max News have condemned the move, labeling it a “crackdown” on press freedom and an assault on the First Amendment.

But let’s be clear — this is not about suppressing journalism. It is about protecting national security.

For far too long, partisan journalists have hidden behind the cloak of “anonymous sources” to leak sensitive defense information, jeopardizing operations, intelligence, and lives. The Pentagon has been compromised multiple times by America’s adversaries—China, Russia, North Korea, and others—through reckless media leaks. Those nations control their defense information tightly, and it works for them. Why should the United States continue to allow its secrets to be weaponized against itself in the name of “press freedom”?

Secretary Hegseth’s directive is not only necessary; it is overdue. Any media organization unwilling to abide by this national security measure should have its Pentagon credentials revoked immediately. The era of spies disguising as journalists is over.

President Trump’s administration is determined to ensure that the Pentagon remains secure. America’s enemies are working tirelessly to undermine its stability, and this directive is a proactive measure to stop that. If journalists believe that releasing classified information is the new definition of “real journalism,” then they should step aside, leave the Pentagon, and find another profession.

They can still attend briefings and receive official information from the Pentagon Press Secretary that is sufficient. What they cannot do is endanger the country under the guise of transparency.

The protection of America’s defense intelligence is not censorship — it is patriotism.