Hegseth Announces Joint Taskforce to Prosecute Press Leaks

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday the formation of a joint taskforce between the Pentagon and the US Department of Justice. This taskforce is designed to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for the "unauthorized disclosure of sensitive" information to the press. The initiative represents an escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to curb leaks.

In a video posted on X, Hegseth stated that the taskforce is being established "to combat the dangers that leaks pose." Effective immediately, he has delegated tasking authority to the war department's Office of General Counsel (OGC). This delegation empowers the OGC to request and receive all necessary information, records, and support across the department concerning media leak investigations.

The creation of this taskforce signals a more aggressive stance by the administration against the dissemination of classified or sensitive information to news organizations. The move is likely to increase scrutiny on government employees and contractors with access to such information, potentially impacting journalistic access to sources within the government.