Fox News, the former employer of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, has joined other lame stream media networks in refusing to accept the new policy. In a joint statement, the networks called the move “unprecedented” and said it undermines fundamental protections for journalists. As of now, only the conservative network One America News (OANN) has agreed to follow the new rules.

The guidelines require that all reporting from within the Pentagon be cleared in advance by Hegseth’s team. Networks that do not formally accept the terms by the end of Tuesday risk losing access to the Pentagon beginning Wednesday.

One other network  has also rejected the policy, saying the restrictions violate press freedoms and obstruct the public’s access to information about the government. In a statement, the network said the rules interfere with its role as an independent source of public-interest reporting on military affairs.

OANN, said it signed the agreement following a legal review conducted by its attorney.

Fox News’s opposition carries particular weight, given its large national audience and close ties to the current administration. Hegseth previously hosted on the network before being appointed as Secretary of Defensc. Several other former Fox personalities now hold positions in the administration, including the current Transportation Secretary and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Despite the risk of being barred from Pentagon facilities, the networks have committed to continuing coverage of the U.S. military through alternative channels. With no compromise in sight, legal action over press access appears increasingly likely.

The Pentagon Press Association, representing reporters covering defence, criticised the policy shift as unnecessary and damaging.

“Our members did nothing to cause this troubling situation,” the group said in a statement. “It stems from a one-sided move by Pentagon leadership apparently intent on controlling what information the American public can access.”

Since Hegseth took office, the Pentagon has reduced the frequency of press briefings, limited reporter movement within the building, and removed journalists from long-standing workspaces.

This development comes amid broader tensions between the administration and major media organisations. In recent months, the White House has launched lawsuits against several national networks and newspapers, sought to defund public media organisations, and is currently in court over press access to presidential events.