CBS News ends over 60-year presence at Pentagon after declining to sign new press requirements

CBS News, a stalwart presence at the Pentagon for more than six decades, is closing its doors to the press. The network's decision comes after nearly every major news organization declined to sign onto new press requirements that reporters' associations claim could infringe on their First Amendment rights.

For CBS News, the experience has been nothing short of a rite of passage. Chief national security correspondent David Martin has spent over four decades reporting from the Pentagon, earning him the trust and respect of officials within the building. Martin's work has covered some of the most pivotal moments in recent military history, including wars in Grenada, Panama, and Iraq.

"I'm proud of the work we've done," Martin wrote in an email before turning in his press credential this week. "I've told stories of valor on the battlefield, courage and resilience at Walter Reed... Building relationships with officials has been key to my success." The commitment and care that David Martin brings to his reporting is reflective of the entire team of CBS News journalists who have called the Pentagon their home over the years.

But the experience isn't just about the journalists – it's also about the access they had to the information. Many journalists, including veteran correspondent Bob Schieffer, have credited their time at the Pentagon with providing them the inside scoop on important stories that helped shape public understanding. "It was like covering a small town in the middle of a big city," Schieffer once said.

Charlie D'Agata, CBS News' senior national security correspondent, has also covered his share of hotspots, including Ukraine and Gaza. His experience at the Pentagon has given him an unparalleled view into the inner workings of the U.S. military.

But it's not just journalists on camera who are giving up their passes – entire teams of producers, camera operators, audio technicians, and engineers will also be leaving behind a piece of history. They have been crucial in bringing stories of the military to Americans across the country, often working tirelessly behind the scenes to get that story out.

The Pentagon's new policy was designed to stop press leaks and exercise control over stories about the military reported by CBS News and other media organizations. The network was given a memo with a mandate for journalists to sign an agreement acknowledging they would need formal authorization to publish either classified or controlled unclassified information. Nearly every major news organization declined to do so, citing concerns that it could infringe on their First Amendment rights.

The decision not to comply has come as no surprise – the relationship between CBS News and the Pentagon has been one of trust for decades. However, this week marks a significant shift in that dynamic. The vast majority of journalists from CBS News declined to sign the agreement, citing concerns over press freedom. At least one outlet, One America News Network, agreed to the new restrictions.

While losing access to the building may be a blow to CBS News' coverage of national security issues, it's unlikely to stop them from doing their job. The network has a long history of reporting on some of the most critical stories in recent military history – and that commitment shows no signs of waning.

Not surprised about this move tho... all these press requirements feel like they're just trying to control the narrative, you know? CBS News had their own way of doing things, but I guess it's time for them to adapt. Will be interesting to see how they adjust to not having that inside scoop anymore

It's like they're trying to cut off their nose to spite their face... I mean, who needs all that access to the Pentagon when you've got decent sources and a strong online presence? CBS News has been around for ages, but now they're gonna take away their own advantage? Guess that means more time for them to focus on other things... like covering politics or whatever. It's not like it's the end of the world... I mean, it's just a building, right?

omg u guys can u believe cbs news is literally closing its doors like what's going to happen to all those journalists who spent years building relationships with ppl at the pentagon?? it's not just about them tho, it's also about the access to info that they had which was super valuable for getting stories out

i feel bad for david martin and all the other journalists who are giving up their passes, he's been doing this for like 40 yrs and has built so much trust with ppl at the pentagon but i guess the new policy was just too much for them to handle

and what about the producers, camera ops, audio techs and engineers? they're not even on camera, but without them, cbs news wouldn't be able to get those stories out

i'm curious to see how this is gonna affect cbs news' coverage of national security issues maybe they'll just go digital or somethin

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-pentagon-press-credential/ just heard this one... been a staple there for so long, can't imagine who's gonna fill the shoes now

this is a big loss for journalism! I mean, can you think of anyone else who's had as much access to the Pentagon as CBS News? David Martin, Charlie D'Agata... those guys have seen some stuff . And it's not just about them, either - there are entire teams of people who've been working behind the scenes to bring us all these stories.

It's kinda weird that only One America News Network agreed to sign onto this new agreement... I mean, what does it say about their priorities? It feels like they're more worried about controlling the narrative than protecting press freedom .

this is a big deal for journalism . the idea that major news organizations can't just sign a piece of paper to agree on how to handle classified info is kinda crazy. i mean, sure, press freedom is important, but so is getting the job done . i'm not saying cbs news was doing anything wrong or that they didn't have a good relationship with the pentagon. it's just weird that nearly every other major org declined to sign on.

i do think it's cool that david martin and all those other vets are giving up their passes, though . they've given us some amazing stories over the years, and i'm sure they'll keep doing what they're doing - maybe just from outside the pentagon walls . as for the other folks who are leaving behind their roles, that's just sad . journalism is about telling people's stories, not just about getting access to the pentagon.

anyway, i think this whole thing will be a minor blip on the radar for cbs news and other orgs . they'll keep on reporting, and we'll keep on watching .

omg this is so sad i mean im all for press freedom but i get why they did it david martin is a legend he's been covering pentagon news for like forever and bob schieffer is another hero he's been reporting from the front lines since forever charlie d'agata is so underrated he does amazing work and i love how cbs news has always put journalists in harm's way to get those exclusive stories but idc if they have to leave now at least their legacy will live on

Big loss for journalism

Closing down CBS News' Pentagon desk is huge blow, feels like the end of an era , many have been covering US military for years. No way to cover some big stories without access .

I'm kinda sad to hear that CBS News is closing its doors . I mean, David Martin's been there for 40 years? That's insane! He's seen so many big moments and built relationships with officials over the years. It's not just about him though - it's all the other journalists, producers, camera ops... they've all made history together behind the scenes .

And yeah, I get why they wouldn't want to sign that agreement . Press freedom is important, and you don't wanna compromise on that for anything. It's a shame, though, because CBS News has always been known for its in-depth reporting on national security issues .

But like the article says, it's not gonna stop them from doing their job . They've got a long history of covering big stories and I'm sure they'll just find new ways to get that information out there . It's all about adapting, right?

So they're really closing the doors now lol CBS News had like 70+ yrs of access to the Pentagon That's wild considering they were basically given an ultimatum by the gov

Stats are in - 74% of major news orgs declined to sign on to those new press requirements According to a recent report, the US has more journalists working overseas than ever before (1,400+)

Here's a graph showing the growth of CBS News' presence at the Pentagon over the past few decades

2000: 10 credentialed journalists
2010: 50 credentialed journalists
2020: 100 credentialed journalists

Meanwhile, according to the Pew Research Center, the number of US journalists killed while covering conflicts has increased by 55% since 2017 (22 journalists)

The decision to leave is a big loss for national security coverage, but as you said, it won't stop them from reporting on critical stories

this is so sad i mean we're losing an institution here... cbs news has been around for like forever & it's not just about the journalists, it's about the access they had to info that helped shape public understanding ... it's a shame that the pentagon's new policy is infringing on press freedom, but i guess this is a good reminder of how delicate the balance between security & transparency can be

[GIF: A picture of a press conference with an empty podium](https://gifmaker.giphy.com/4yJtPv5qM8kZ8/giphy.gif) "When the going gets tough, the tough get...out"

I'm literally shaking with rage right now thinking about what's happening at CBS News How can they just give up their press credentials like that? I mean, David Martin has been reporting from the Pentagon for decades and he knows more about national security than most experts do And all because of some new policy that restricts press freedom? It's a disaster waiting to happen

I know some people might say "oh well, they declined to sign the agreement" but what does that even mean? Are we supposed to believe that CBS News is just going to magically start getting the same access and information as One America News Network or whatever other outlet agreed to the new restrictions? I don't think so.

This is a huge loss for journalism and for the public We need people like David Martin reporting on national security issues, not some scripted news program that's just regurgitating government talking points

man... losing access to the pentagon is huge for cbs news ... they've built such a strong relationship with officials over the years, it's sad to see that come to an end ... all those journalists who have covered some major stories, like david martin and bob schieffer, will be deeply missed ... it's not just about them though, but also about the entire team behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to get the story out ... i'm sure they'll still keep reporting on national security issues, just maybe not from the pentagon anymore

I don’t usually comment but... I feel kinda bad for CBS News, you know? They've had this amazing access to the Pentagon for like 60 years or something. It's crazy how much they've been able to share with us through their reporting. And David Martin is literally a legend in his field – he's got decades of experience and has covered some of the biggest stories out there. I can see why it's gonna be tough for them to lose that access, but at the same time, it's also kinda sad because you know the Pentagon isn't exactly known for being super transparent about things . Anyway, I think CBS News will find a way to adapt and keep on doing their thing – they're not the first org to face a challenge like this

This is such a bummer . I mean, who doesn't love watching a live press briefing at the Pentagon? It's like something straight out of a spy movie . The fact that CBS News has decided not to sign on to this new policy is totally understandable though. I don't think any journalist would want to compromise their First Amendment rights even if it means losing access to some super cool stories .

It's amazing to think about all the history that's being made here, like David Martin's decades-long tenure as a correspondent and Bob Schieffer's behind-the-scenes work getting stories out . It's crazy to consider who else will be affected by this new policy - I mean, those producers, camera operators, audio techs... they're all gonna miss the Pentagon too .

I'm not gonna lie though, I'm kinda sad that CBS News is closing its doors to us journalists. We've grown up watching them cover some of the biggest stories in national security . But at the same time, I think this says something about the state of journalism and how we're adapting to changing times .

It's gonna be interesting to see what happens next - will other news outlets follow suit or find new ways to get access to that kind of information?

I'm shocked they're actually kicking us out lol , like what's next? CBS News being replaced by Fox News or something? But for real tho, I feel bad for the journalists who have been working with those guys for years. David Martin is a legend and it's sad to see him go . The Pentagon has always been this sacred place where you can get the scoop on what's really going down in D.C., and now that's being taken away from us . I'm also kinda salty that One America News Network got to keep their press pass though , like what did they do right? Anyway, CBS News will find a way to adapt and keep doing what they do best , but man it's gonna be weird not seeing those guys at the Pentagon anymore

this is a bummer they're shutting down their whole operation i mean im not gonna lie its gonna make it harder for them to cover those big national security stories but i guess the cost of being able to leak info to the press just wasn't worth it anymore

I'm kinda sad to see CBS News go, you know? They've been covering some major news for ages and it's weird to think about them not being there anymore. I mean, David Martin has been doing his thing at the Pentagon for like 40 years! It's crazy to think that he won't be showing up there to do his reporting anymore . But on the other hand, I get why they wouldn't sign onto those new press requirements - it does sound kinda restrictive. I just hope they find a way to keep doing what they're doing without losing access to the building . It's like when Spotify switched from free to premium and all that jazz - you gotta adapt to change, right?