Parnell confirmed that all of the journalists in the newly announced “next generation” of the Pentagon press corps have agreed to the policy.

Dozens of reporters stationed at the Pentagon walked out this week and surrendered their access badges rather than sign on to new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth they said would restrict how they do their jobs.

When you imagine media in a dictatorship, you probably think of something dull and gray. Maybe a Soviet state-television program, extolling the annual harvest. Perhaps a smudgy newspaper photograph of Chairman Mao or General Pinochet, surrounded by blocks of turgid prose.

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The Federalist, the Epoch Times, and One America News signed the Defense Department’s press rules. The rest are freelancers, independent or work for media outfits based overseas.

News organizations warn the policy amounts to “intimidation” and threatens journalists’ ability to inform the public.

The new rules codify strict limitations on access and raise the prospect of punishment for requesting information on matters of public interest.

While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks.

The move would be a major escalation of the Trump administration’s military campaign to target drug smugglers and threaten governments in Latin America.