The Department of Defense, under Pete Hegseth, is reportedly requiring military officials involved in the Trump administration’s Caribbean strikes to sign non-disclosure agreements, even though existing rules already cover national security secrets. These strikes, which have resulted in at least 57 deaths since September, have drawn scrutiny and concerns from lawmakers and human rights groups. The administration defends these attacks as targeting drug traffickers, yet has been criticized for a lack of transparency, including withholding unedited footage and details about the victims. Hegseth has also taken steps to control information, including restricting press access and limiting communication between generals and Congress.
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The Pentagon has accepted a $130 million anonymous donation to aid military personnel pay during the ongoing government shutdown, sparking ethical concerns. Despite the substantial sum, the donation only covers a fraction of the total needed for service member compensation, raising questions about financial sustainability. While President Trump lauded the donor as a “patriot,” details regarding the donation’s legality and potential conflicts of interest remain unclear. Experts are calling for more transparency, particularly regarding the Pentagon’s policies on gift acceptance and potential donor involvement in government matters.
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The Pentagon is restricting nearly all Defense Department personnel from communicating with Congress or state lawmakers without prior approval from the agency’s legislative affairs office. The memo, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aims to improve accuracy and responsiveness in communications, with the restriction applying to key figures like civilian leaders and combatant commanders. While a senior official claims the move is consistent with longstanding policy, another suggests it will centralize all communications, requiring even service legislative affairs staff to seek approval. This move follows prior efforts by Hegseth to control information flow and has been met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as an overreach and others as a necessary measure for coordinated messaging.
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A protest against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new policy restricting press access at the Pentagon, which journalists and media advocates deem criminalization of routine reporting, unfolded with a “journalism is not a crime” flyer and reporters surrendering press passes. News outlets are refusing to comply, choosing to report on Hegseth and the military from outside the Pentagon. While the policy undermines principles of the “free flow of information,” Hegseth controls access, leading to the policy’s implementation, and drawing criticism from press freedom advocates, military officers, and a professional organization who see this as an attack on the First Amendment and the American public.
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Numerous prominent news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, have publicly rejected a new Pentagon policy. This policy mandates that media outlets pledge not to obtain unauthorized material and restricts access to certain areas without official accompaniment. The policy has sparked widespread criticism, with many outlets arguing it infringes on First Amendment rights and hinders the public’s ability to understand government operations. Pentagon officials claim the policy is necessary for national security, while some conservative outlets have embraced the new rules.
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Several prominent news organizations, including The New York Times, The Associated Press, and Newsmax, have refused to sign a new Defense Department document outlining press rules, potentially leading to the eviction of their reporters from the Pentagon. These outlets argue the policy infringes upon First Amendment rights by restricting access and threatening to punish routine news gathering. The new rules require journalists to acknowledge the policy, which bars access to significant areas of the Pentagon without an escort and allows the Defense Secretary to revoke press access for unauthorized information requests. Pentagon officials maintain the policy establishes “common sense media procedures,” while journalists counter that signing the document implies reporting on unapproved information harms national security, a claim they refute.
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Newsmax has announced it will not sign the Pentagon’s revised media credentialing agreement, becoming the first major outlet to publicly reject the new restrictions. The Pentagon’s updated policy aims to control how information is shared with reporters, but has led to significant pushback from news organizations. The policy change would potentially allow U.S. military personnel to face “adverse consequences” if they make unauthorized disclosures to reporters, thus possibly revoking a reporter’s access. The decision by Newsmax, a right-leaning outlet, may pose a significant challenge to the Trump administration.
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Pentagon plans widespread random polygraph testing, nondisclosure agreements, Washington Post reports. Hmm, okay, so let’s unpack this, shall we? The news, as reported by the Washington Post, indicates the Pentagon is gearing up for a widespread rollout of random polygraph tests and new nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs. My initial thought? This feels…unsettling. Not because these tools are particularly effective, but because of the underlying implications.
The whole idea of widespread random polygraph testing in 2025 feels a bit archaic, doesn’t it? Polygraphs, or lie detectors, have been around for ages, but the scientific community has largely debunked them. They’re essentially pseudoscience.… Continue reading
At a gathering of nearly 800 military leaders, Pete Hegseth delivered a speech intended to rouse the assembled brass, employing chest-beating rhetoric and visceral expressions. His war cry, including the acronym “FAFO,” was met with an awkward silence and tepid responses. Hegseth’s speech also touched upon topics such as fat generals, climate change, and gender issues, while expressing a desire to restore basic training and allow drill sergeants to physically interact with recruits. Despite his efforts, the assembled military officials remained largely unmoved.
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In a recent address to nearly 800 top military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced new directives aimed at reversing policies regarding women in combat and the prevention of hazing and bullying. Hegseth stated the intention of rolling back standards to make it harder for women to serve in combat, suggesting that if women cannot meet “male standards,” they should seek alternative roles. Furthermore, he criticized efforts to eliminate “toxic leadership,” asserting that definitions of bullying and hazing have been “weaponized”. The Secretary also ordered reforms to the Pentagon Inspector General’s office and Equal Opportunity offices to eliminate anonymous complaints, saying it empowers leaders.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood