The new, just barely, Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, wasted no time on an important matter. The department announced that, after 50 years, it was time for a new set of occupants of the dedicated media offices at the Pentagon. The New York Times, NBC, National Pub lic Radio and Politico have two weeks to vacate the premises.
They are being replaced by the New York Post, One America News Net work, Breitbart and Huffington Post. The new members term is for one year, not fifty. Rotation will continue to give others a chance to "have the unique opportunity to report as a resident member of the Pentagon Press Corps," according to the memo.
NPR was miffed as was NBC, the NYT, so far, has had no comment. Reac tion of others was swift. National Press Club President Mike Balsamo said in a statement. “Any action that restricts the ability of journalists to report on the oper ations of the U.S. government should alarm all who value transparency and press freedom. The National Press Club is deeply concerned by the Defense De partment’s decision to remove certain media organizations from their dedicated spaces in the Pentagon.”
Dedicated spaces? Fifty years in a privileged spot? It is time for new blood, not only in the press box, but on the playing field. Hopefully, this won't be the only change at the Pentagon. War fare is radically different than it was even two years ago.
