U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB5288: Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act
Status: In committee, August 6, 2026
A bill to restore press access to the Pentagon, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To restore press access to the Pentagon, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, August 6, 2026:
A BILL To restore press access to the Pentagon, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act . SECTION 2. Purpose The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to promote accurate and independent reporting about the defense policy and military services of the United States by restoring to credentialed journalists access to the Pentagon that successive administrations permitted until 2025; and (2) to remove unreasonable restrictions on credentialed journalists imposed by Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, including restrictions imposed by the May 23, 2025, Secretary of Defense Memorandum titled Updated Physical Control Measures for Press/Media Access Within the Pentagon and the October 6, 2025, Secretary of Defense Memorandum titled Implementation of New Media In-brief . SECTION 3. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Founders of the United States enshrined freedom of the press in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States because they recognized that democracy requires a free and vibrant press capable of uncovering and disseminating the knowledge necessary for citizens to hold the government to account. (2) Independent journalists were invited to work from inside the Pentagon before the building opened during World War II because Secretary of War Henry Stimson understood the need for accurate reporting on the national security …
Sponsors
- Schatz, Brian (D) · primary sponsor
- Schiff, Adam B. (D)
- Shaheen, Jeanne (D)
- Ossoff, Jon (D)
- Van Hollen, Chris (D)
- Duckworth, Tammy (D)
- Kaine, Timothy (D)
- Blumenthal, Richard (D)
- Warren, Elizabeth (D)
- Coons, Christopher (D)
- Booker, Cory (D)
- Wyden, Ron (D, SD-OR)
Latest actions
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Common questions
- What is SB5288?
- SB5288 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act.
- What does SB5288 do?
- In its own words: To restore press access to the Pentagon, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SB5288?
- In committee as of August 6, 2026. Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (August 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5288?
- Schatz, Brian (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5288?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5288
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.