Pentagon

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual U.S. congressional statute that authorizes funding levels and policy provisions for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The United States Department of Defense (the Pentagon) can initiate reviews of alleged misconduct by former service members and may recall them to active duty to face court-martial proceedings or to impose administrative measures.

Proposed legislation can authorize the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to revoke security clearances of former defense officials who lobby on behalf of companies substantially owned or controlled by designated adversary governments.

U.S. defense and national security officials have at times opposed proposed sales of advanced military technology to foreign partners because of concerns that such technology could be shared with third countries, including China.

U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) safety inspectors are tasked with examining facilities that manufacture explosive products for the military (for example, land mines and demolition charges) and typically conduct inspections about four times per year.

The U.S. Army can be tasked to lead counter-drone defense responsibilities for the Pentagon and to coordinate those efforts with civilian law enforcement agencies.

In U.S. Department of Defense terminology, 'low-intensity conflict' denotes combat that falls short of a conventional war between two countries and typically involves operations such as counterinsurgency or counterterrorism intended to achieve political objectives.

Government media access policies can require reporters who wish to be inside facilities not to gather information that has not been approved for release.

Journalists accredited to cover the U.S. Department of Defense are typically assigned workspaces and issued credentials that permit limited physical access inside the Pentagon.

Pentagon policies commonly require reporters to remain in designated press areas and briefing rooms and to use cleared badges and escorts to access other parts of the building.

As of 2025, the Pentagon's stated policy is that it will not prevent journalists from reporting news but reserves the ability to revoke press credentials for reporters who solicit information from Defense Department personnel without official approval.

An October 8, 2025 Department of Defense memo gives commanders authority to override military separation boards' decisions to retain transgender service members.

A 2025 Pentagon policy memo (Oct. 8, 2025) allows military commanders to override separation-board decisions about whether transgender service members may remain in uniform, reversing a longstanding practice of independent board decision-making.

A 2025 Pentagon policy memo requires transgender service members to appear before separation boards in uniforms and grooming that match the sex assigned at birth and permits boards to proceed in absentia and consider failure to comply with those standards when determining separation.

Access to the Pentagon and comparable military installations is generally treated as a privilege rather than a legal right, allowing authorities to impose rules and conditions on entry and behavior within those facilities.

Television networks have had the capability to broadcast live from inside the Pentagon during major news events, using visible 'on-air' indicators to signal live reporting (practice established by the early 2000s).

The Pentagon has hosted television network booths or mini-offices in a designated media area since the 1970s.

Pentagon press-access rules governing reporter movements and access have been in place since the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961).

CBS News maintained radio correspondents working from inside the Pentagon beginning in the 1940s.

News organizations assigned to cover the Pentagon are typically provided dedicated workspaces and press credentials that grant journalists limited access inside the Pentagon.

The Pentagon maintains an on-site press corps of credentialed journalists who hold access badges to report on the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Secretary.

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has implemented a policy that ties media credentials and access to Pentagon workspaces to agreement with specific press restrictions, including provisions that journalists could be deemed security risks and have Pentagon press badges revoked for soliciting information not released by the department, even if that information is unclassified.

U.S. governmental responsibilities for nuclear testing are divided such that the Department of Defense (Pentagon) is responsible for testing nuclear-capable delivery vehicles, while the Department of Energy has jurisdiction over testing nuclear explosives.

U.S. foreign-policy tools that can be employed to pressure other governments on protections for religious minorities include economic sanctions and Pentagon engagement on counterterrorism.