Elizabeth Warren

10/07/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2025 16:23

Warren Presses Army General Counsel Nominee on Trump Administration’s Efforts to Censor the Press

October 07, 2025

Warren Presses Army General Counsel Nominee on Trump Administration's Efforts to Censor the Press

Warren: "Freedom of the press is a core pillar of our democracy, and the public needs to know if we're sending troops to war under false pretenses or exposing our troops to toxic water."

Video of Exchange (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. - At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Mr. Charles L. Young III, nominee to be Army general counsel, about the Department of Defense's (DoD) attempts to restrict freedom of the press and his commitment to preserving free speech for military reporters.

The Trump Administration has repeatedly attempted to restrict journalists, most recently, in September 2025, the Pentagon released a memo mandating that credentialed journalists at the Pentagon sign a pledge to only report information "approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified." The memo threatened to revoke press badges for reporters who disagree with the terms or are found to have attempted to obtain unauthorized access or disclosure of information. On October 6, DoD loosened and clarified those restrictions but still included procedures for DoD to revoke credentials for journalists.

In the hearing, Senator Warren questioned Mr. Young about the First Amendment's role in DoD press policies. Mr. Young said it was consistent with the First Amendment for DoD to revoke press badges from reporters who publish stories that are not authorized for release by DoD. He walked back his statement under pressure from Senator Warren, affirming that it would not be proper grounds to revoke a reporter's press credentials if a reporter publishes a story that is critical of the Trump administration. Mr. Young also asserted that he would enforce the court's rule if the DoD's press restrictions are considered unconstitutional, stating he would advise military leaders to "comply with court orders."

Senator Warren concluded the hearing by emphasizing the need for independent journalism to hold the military accountable: "This is a scary moment, but there is power in raising our voices, and that is why Donald Trump and his lackeys at the Pentagon want to shut down reporters and shut down access to the truth."

Transcript: Hearings to examine the nominations of John Noh, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary; Charles Young III, of West Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Army; and William Lane III, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force, all of the Department of Defense; and David Beck, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
Senate Armed Services Committee
October 7, 2025

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A free press is right there in the First Amendment of the Constitution. But when Trump's Federal Communications Commission Chair was unhappy with some of Jimmy Kimmel's remarks, he said media companies "can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC."

The next day, Secretary Hegseth announced that journalists at the Pentagon needed to sign a pledge not to report information DoD hasn't approved for release, including unclassified information. DoD reportedly rolled those rules back, but this wasn't Hegseth's first crackdown on journalists, and I worry it may not be the last.

It is the job of a free press to uncover problems that DOD doesn't want people to know about, like military families living in mold-infested homes or Secretary Hegseth texting classified war plans.

Mr. Young, you were acting general counsel for the DOD for most of 2025, and now you're nominated to be the Army's top lawyer.

So, let me ask you, Mr. Young, do you consider your oath to the Constitution to include the First Amendment?

Mr. Charles L. Young III: Yes, Senator, I do.

Senator Warren: Thank you. We need independent journalists at DOD now more than ever. President Trump has ignored locally elected leaders to deploy military forces to Los Angeles to DC to Chicago, and he's told generals he wants the military to use American cities as "training grounds" and handle the "enemy from within". Now this is extremely dangerous, and we need independent journalists reporting the truth, not just whatever spin Pete Hegseth wants to put on it.

So, Mr. Young, would it be consistent with the First Amendment for the DOD to revoke the press credentials of a reporter for publishing a story that was critical of the Trump administration?

Mr. Young: Senator, we're very cognizant, very conscientious of the First Amendment and the freedom of the press to be able to report as needed. It was my understanding that the policy was designed to inform the members of the press. The ability to access the Pentagon is a bit different than a normal public forum-

Senator Warren: I got to stop you right there, Mr. Young. I asked you a very straightforward question I think you can answer with a yes or no, and that is, is it consistent with the First Amendment for DOD to revoke press credentials of a reporter just because the reporter published a story that was critical of President Trump? That should be an easy one for a lawyer who has served as you have for many years.

Mr. Young: Yes, Senator, I would say it would be consistent with the First Amendment if the basis was that the person published information that was not otherwise approved for release by the department.

Senator Warren: Whoa.

Mr. Young: They could still be critical. We're not getting into their contents.

Senator Warren: Well, are you telling me that the new regime is that Secretary Hegseth will decide what has been "released" and that reporters can only talk about what the Secretary "releases"? That's your view of the First Amendment?

Mr. Young: No, Senator, I'm not saying that.

Senator Warren: Well, then let me ask my question one more time. If a reporter publishes a story critical of the Trump administration, is that grounds for revoking that reporter's press credential?

Mr. Young: No, Senator, it's not.

Senator Warren: Great, okay, hard to get there, but I'm glad we did. Let me ask you one more question, and that is, if the courts rule any of the DOD's press restrictions unconstitutional, will you stand by your oath to the Constitution and tell the military leadership to comply with court orders, or is your plan to bend the knee to Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth?

Mr. Young: Certainly would advise to comply with court orders, Senator.

Senator Warren: Okay, you know, I appreciate this. Freedom of the press is a core pillar of our democracy, and the public needs to know if we're sending troops to war under false pretenses or exposing our troops to toxic water. This is a scary moment, but there is power in raising our voices, and that is why Donald Trump and his lackeys at the Pentagon want to shut down reporters and shut down access to the truth.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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