Hegseth announces joint task force with DOJ to prosecute leaks to journalists 'with the full force of the law'

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute officials who leak "sensitive information" to the media.

Hegseth said the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all information, support and records across the department regarding news media leak investigations.

"To combat the dangers that leaks pose, effectively immediately, I have ​delegated tasking authority ​to the war department’s ‌office ⁠of general counsel, empowering OGC to request and receive ​all ​information, ⁠records and support across the ​department concerning ​media ⁠leak investigations," he said in a video shared on X.

"Leaked information risks lives, these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force," Hegseth continued. "The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines, access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law."

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The secretary also thanked Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support, adding that he was "proud that our departments are working together closer than we have ever before."

Hegseth's announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times, attempting to force them to testify before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on the security concerns involving the plane gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar that he flew on to Turkey for a recent NATO summit.

The subpoenas were widely criticized by The New York Times, journalists at various news outlets and press freedom groups, arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to intimidate reporters conducting legitimate news-gathering about the government.

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"The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects," an attorney for the newspaper, David McCraw, said in a statement.

"Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used," McCraw added. "This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs."

Since taking over as head of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to crack down on leaks to the media.

Last year, the department opened investigations into those accused of leaking classified information to the press and threatened to conduct polygraphs to identify leakers.

Hegseth has also attempted to impose restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He had forced them to sign a pledge stating that they would not solicit any unauthorized material, even if the information was unclassified. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their press badges rather than accept the department's restrictions on news-gathering.

That policy is facing lawsuits, and a judge last month granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the department's requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official chaperone at all times violated the First Amendment in response to a case brought by The New York Times.