A quiet policy change at the Pentagon has ignited a loud debate about press freedom and the public’s right to know. New restrictions unveiled this week limit how journalists can report on U.S. military affairs, even when dealing with unclassified information.

Reporters and press advocates were quick to sound the alarm. They argue that the rules would make it harder to hold the Pentagon accountable and could muzzle coverage of military operations around the globe. The policy, they say, could prevent the public from learning critical details about how wars are fought, how much money is spent, and what risks soldiers face.

Trump dismissed the concerns, telling reporters, “Nothing stops reporters.” But his administration has long had a combative relationship with the media, and critics believe this is part of a broader pattern: limiting access, restricting information, and portraying the press as an adversary rather than a democratic safeguard.

The battle lines are clear. Supporters of the new restrictions argue they’re needed for national security in a time of complex global threats. Opponents insist they’re a dangerous precedent, one that weakens the press’s role as watchdog.

The impact may not be seen in Washington press rooms, but on the ground in conflict zones where journalists often risk their lives to report the truth. If access shrinks, so too might the public’s understanding of wars fought in their name.