The Department of Defense plans to enforce new policies that "appear designed to stifle a free press," the Pentagon Press Association said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has faced weeks of backlash over a Sept. 15 memo restricting engagements alongside new requirements that journalists sign an "express agreement" not to gather any information the department hasn't officially authorized for release, or they risk losing access to Pentagon facilities.

Zoom in: The press association said in its Wednesday statement that the revised rules shared on Monday would force reporters to sign off on policies that could potentially expose them to prosecution for "simply doing [their] jobs." • Reporters attempting to seek out information not yet available for formal relea

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