On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized media organizations that have refused to comply with the Pentagon’s newly imposed press policy. In a series of social media exchanges, Hegseth used a farewell handwave emoji to address posts from these outlets, signaling his dismissal of their stance.

Prominent news organizations including The Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, CNN, and NPR have publicly declared that their reporters will not consent to the new Pentagon policy. This policy requires journalists to sign paperwork acknowledging an understanding of the revised rules for access to Pentagon information. Many of these media outlets expressed their opposition through statements shared on social media platforms.

Hegseth responded to several such posts – including one made by The Atlantic, which said they “fundamentally oppose” the restrictions – with the goodbye emoji. 

Similarly, Hegseth’s emoji response followed The Washington Post’s statement, which criticized the policy for undermining First Amendment rights and imposing undue limitations on the process of news gathering and reporting.

The New York Times also received the same emoji treatment after it condemned the Pentagon’s regulations, arguing that the rules could penalize journalists for engaging in routine news activities safeguarded by the First Amendment.

Hegseth has frequently displayed animosity towards the press, including media outlets as a whole and individual journalists, and has steadily restricted press access and accommodations in the Pentagon.

Despite his spokespeople frequently boasting about transparency, Hegseth’s office removed four outlets from their Pentagon workspaces in late January, replacing them with media outlets that have given favorable coverage to the Trump administration, including One America News Network and Breitbart News. When reporters complained to officials about the move, they removed four additional news outlets, including The Hill, from their desks. 

The journalists removed from their desks were still allowed to work in the building, though Hegseth’s office also made it difficult by restricting reporters from accessing the Pentagon’s press briefing room – one of the few places in the building with wireless internet to use for filing stories.

In May, Hegseth banned journalists from most hallways of the Pentagon without an official escort. The decision was considered extreme, as reporters had had access throughout much of the building for decades without being monitored. Secure or restricted spaces have always been off-limits to the press without official permission.

Now with the new Pentagon press policy, journalists are technically not barred from investigating, reporting or publishing stories on the U.S. military using information deemed sensitive or unclassified, but they could be deemed “a security or safety risk” should they even ask DOD personnel for such information, according to a draft of the rules. 

The Pentagon describes solicitation as including calls for tips, encouraging military personnel to share non-public information, as many reporters do via their publications or personal social media platforms, as routine Defense Department news briefings are nonexistent.

The Pentagon Press Association last week said Hegseth and other officials have been “systematically limiting access to information about the U.S. military” since the start of the year.

Even several right-leaning news organizations have balked at the policy, including the Washington Times and Newsmax, the latter of which has said it believes the requirements “are unnecessary and onerous,” and that its reporters won’t sign.

Beat reporters now have until Tuesday to sign the new rules or give up their press passes by Wednesday. Editors and journalists have said they will continue to cover the U.S. military even without press credentials.