Pentagon Unveils 'New Media' Press Corps

Press Corp Walkout Last Week

The Defense Department has announced a new media press corps, primarily composed of right-wing outlets and independent journalists, nearly a week after numerous Pentagon reporters surrendered their press credentials in protest of a restrictive new media policy. 

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated on X that the 60-member group from various news organizations represents “a broad spectrum of new media outlets and independent journalists” who agreed to the agency’s policy, which prohibits soliciting unauthorized information, including unclassified details.

Pentagon Press Area

The coalition includes outlets like Lindell TV, founded by MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell, as well as the Gateway Pundit, the Post Millennial, Human Events, the National Pulse, Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, Tim Pool’s Timcast, and the Substack-based Washington Reporter, according to a draft announcement obtained by The Washington Post. 

Confirmations of participation came from Timcast, the National Pulse, Washington Reporter, and others via X, alongside Just the News. Initially, 26 individuals from 18 outlets, including OAN, the Federalist, and the Epoch Times, signed the policy, with 15 reported signatories as of October 16, 2025.

Parnell praised the new media corps, claiming they “circumvent the lies of the mainstream media” and deliver “real news” with greater reach and balance. The policy, a significant shift in Pentagon press relations, led to a walkout by journalists unwilling to comply, with some, like The Australian (owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.), later withdrawing due to concerns over press freedom restrictions. The Defense Department declined to provide further comments or a full list of signatories, leaving questions about the full scope of the new press corps and its implications for media access.