The Trump administration is smothering press freedom and the public's right to know
commentary
The Trump administration is smothering press freedom and the public's right to know
Published
July 16, 2026 9:00AM (EDT)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's attempts to control what media report about the Defense Department are illegal and will…
US defense secretary says taskforce will ‘combat dangers’ of leaks in latest escalation of White House press crackdown
The Trump administration has launched a new crackdown on unauthorized leaks, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announcing a…
Secretary Pete Hegseth says a new Pentagon task force will investigate leaks and expand efforts to identify and prosecute leakers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered further restrictions on how the press operates at the Pentagon.
The defense secretary bemoaned the “tragic things” that make “front page news.”
Hegseth announces joint taskforce with DoJ to target and prosecute press leaks
'If you betray our warriors...': Hegseth unveils Pentagon-DOJ joint taskforce to hunt press leaks
Hegseth launches Pentagon crackdown on media leaks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Launches Task Force to Hunt Media Leaks
Pete Hegseth’s Furious Vow To ‘Identify And Prosecute Leakers’ Backfires Spectacularly
Defense, Justice departments to target press leaks - UPI.com
