Pete Hegseth, beset by leaks, clamps down on press inside Pentagon

Defense secretary's move outlined in memo seemingly punishes media for reporting on leaks inside department

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth moved on Friday to dramatically curtail press access inside the Pentagon, seemingly punishing the news media for reporting on leaks of classified and unclassified information in recent weeks.

The changes, announced in a two-page memo issued by Hegseth, effectively boxed credentialed reporters into one corner on one floor of the building that houses the press office and spaces used by news organizations.