Military Reporters & Editors Statement
WASHINGTON – April 29, 2025 (MRE) – In response to a request made by James LaPorta (CBS News) seeking comment from Military Reporters & Editors concerning the Pentagon’s handling of briefings for the media, the MRE Board of Directors released the following statement:
It is hard to overstate the importance of having the Pentagon hold regular press briefings. As one of the world’s most important and powerful institutions, it spends trillions, employs millions and has tens of thousands of brave men and women in harm’s way.
The American public has a right to know how and why taxpayer dollars are spent, how those in uniform are faring and, within the boundaries of operational security, the dangers our troops and nation face.
Yet to date, there has been only one briefing under the Pentagon’s new administration.
MRE calls upon the Defense Secretary and his team to hold regular engagements with the media.This is not a partisan issue. It is an American one.
A well-informed public is a cornerstone of our democracy.
– Howard Altman, President of Military Reporters & Editors
You can view the article by James LaPorta and Eleanor Watson “At 100-day mark, Hegseth’s Pentagon has given one formal news briefing” on the the CBS News website (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-100-days-pete-hegseth-pentagon-one-formal-briefing/).