Pentagon spokesman schooled in the law after ranting about report on Iran war hurting US readiness

The Pentagon’s spokesman is facing backlash for falsely claiming that it is a “crime” for journalists to publish classified information following a report that some military leaders were critical of extending President Donald Trump’s war in Iran.

A classified Pentagon assessment reviewed by The Washington Post reportedly advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging the conflict in Iran was weakening the U.S. elsewhere, including on home soil.

The warning appeared this month in the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, which details the availability of U.S. military resources around the world and includes input from senior defense officials, the newspaper reported. The book is usually published twice a month.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell furiously hit out at the Post for publishing the report, writing on X that it was “a betrayal of the force” and constituted a crime. “Publishing highly classified assessments from the Secretary’s orders book is a crime,” Parnell said. “It’s a betrayal of the force. And much of what they’re publishing is inaccurate. Of course, we demand candid military advice. Non-concurs are standard. The Secretary sees them constantly. That’s how you run a real military.”

“We are in great shape around the world,” his post continued. “This story isn’t about readiness. It’s TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] and PDS [Pete Derangement Syndrome]— they hate President Trump and Secretary Hegseth more than they love America.”

Parnell’s social media post, which received 1.5 million views, was swiftly updated with a community note explaining the law on publishing classified information.

“While leaking classified material is illegal for government employees, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) that the First Amendment protects the press’s right to publish classified information of public interest,” the note read, referring to a New York Times explainer about the landmark 1971 Pentagon Papers ruling.

Dan Lamothe, the Post’s military affairs reporter who contributed to the story, also clapped back at Parnell on X. “Fact check: Independent journalism is not a crime,” Lamothe said.

“It’s also especially important at a time when government officials are withholding key details and concerns about a war being fought on behalf of the American people with their taxpayer dollars,” he added.

The Post’s communications office backed its reporters and rebuked Parnell in a statement. “We’re confident in our reporting, our sourcing, and the constitutional protections that guarantee the rights of news organizations to publish information in the public interest that holds officials accountable,” spokesperson Olivia Peterson said. “The assertion that such publication is a crime is both incorrect and irresponsible.”

Other journalists from the Post and lawmakers weighed in.

“In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that it is legal to publish top-secret info and that the free press has a responsibility to do so to prevent the government from deceiving the public, especially during wartime,” explained investigative reporter Craig Whitlock, quoting Parnell’s post.

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California wrote that the First Amendment protects the freedom of the press, including the right to publish classified information.

“That was the whole point of the Pentagon Papers case,” Lieu said. “That’s why the reporters here literally put their names on the article.”

Some MAGA-aligned accounts supported Parnell, referring to the reporters as “traitors,” and called for prosecutions.

Military leaders were prompted to speak out about the Iran war, which has dragged on for six months with no end in sight, after the orders book said some U.S. troops would remain in the Middle East into 2027, sources told the Post.

The heads of U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Southern Command responded with a “non-concur,” meaning they opposed the order to keep forces in the region but would carry it out nonetheless.

Commanders overseeing operations in Latin America, Europe and Asia have seen resources, including aircraft and ships, diverted to support the war with Iran, which has dragged on for six months with no clear end in sight. The moves have hampered their missions and training operations, with the general feeling being that the military has faced “too much for too long,” one source told the Post.

In a previous statement to The Independent, Parnell said the report was “poorly sourced reporting is full of inaccuracies.”

“Secretary Hegseth is actively engaged with the Services, the Joint Staff, and Combatant Commanders to ensure that U.S. forces are postured to deter conflict, respond effectively when required, and maintain acceptable levels of readiness,” Parnell said.

“Decisions regarding the scope and duration of specific force commitments to any Combatant Command are made based on the current threat assessment, strategic priorities established by the President, and the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant Commanders,” he continued. “However, the Department of War does not discuss internal operational processes.”

Brendan Rascius contributed to this report