House Republicans Take Aim at Pentagon’s Censorship Regime
House Republicans are fighting back against the Pentagon’s censorship regime in the latest version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Representative Richard McCormick from Georgia has attached an amendment to the annual defense bill that aims to strip the department of its power to engage in censorship or blacklist news sources. The amendment specifically targets censorship organizations like NewsGuard, the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), and Graphika Technologies, which advise the censorship or blacklisting of news sources based on subjective criteria or political biases under the guise of “fact-checking” or removing “misinformation.”
Censorship groups such as GDI and NewsGuard have been attempting to impose a regime that discriminates against conservative outlets on behalf of the federal government. GDI, a British group, compiles secretive lists of news organizations to boycott, while NewsGuard, subsidized by federal tax dollars, discredits websites critical of establishment-approved narratives.
In February, GDI was exposed for blacklisting websites such as The Federalist, The American Spectator, Newsmax, and The New York Post. GDI’s partners have included the U.S. State Department and the National Endowment for Democracy, both funded by the government. According to investigative reporter Gabe Kaminsky, GDI received nearly $1 million in funding from 2020 to 2022.
NewsGuard, on the other hand, is a browser extension that rates the credibility of news organizations. It downgrades conservative websites while giving perfect scores to legacy outlets that spread false information. In 2021, NewsGuard received a $750,000 contract from the Department of Defense.
However, the Defense Department’s censorship regime goes beyond contracting with NewsGuard. California-based PeakMetrics also won a Pentagon-State Department contest and received funding to develop its “social listening” technology with DOD aid.
Representative McCormick believes that these agencies are avoiding conservative stations where they could find potential recruits. Only the Marine Corps and Space Force met their recruitment goals for 2023, while the Army, Air Force, and Navy fell short.
“If advertisers want the best results for their money,” McCormick said, “they should focus on conservative venues.”
About the Author
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness.
He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal, and his work has been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News.
Tristan graduated from George Washington University with a major in political science and a minor in journalism.
Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected].
Why do House Republicans believe that eliminating the Pentagon’s collaboration with censorship organizations is necessary to restore the integrity of the free press and preserve democratic values
Ractices have raised concerns among House Republicans, who argue that these censorship organizations are infringing on the freedom of speech and press guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Representative McCormick’s amendment to the NDAA intends to put an end to the Pentagon’s collaboration with these censorship organizations. The amendment not only seeks to strip the department of its power to engage in censorship but also aims to prevent it from using federal tax dollars to subsidize groups like GDI and NewsGuard.
The issue of censorship in the defense bill has gained substantial support from House Republicans. They argue that the Pentagon’s collaboration with these organizations undermines the principles of free speech and press in the United States. By censoring news sources based on subjective criteria or political biases, these organizations essentially control the flow of information and stifle differing viewpoints.
Critics of the Pentagon’s censorship regime point out that it is antithetical to the principles of democracy. The ability to criticize and hold those in power accountable is a cornerstone of a free society, and any attempt to suppress this freedom undermines the democratic process.
Furthermore, the collaboration between the Pentagon and these censorship organizations raises questions about transparency and accountability. The secretive nature of compiling blacklists and the lack of clear criteria for categorizing news sources as trustworthy or untrustworthy undermine the credibility of these censorship organizations.
The amendment proposed by Representative McCormick is a step towards safeguarding the freedom of speech and press in the United States. It aims to ensure that the government does not have the power to decide what news sources are acceptable and what information is considered trustworthy.
House Republicans argue that the role of the government should be to protect and defend the principles of the Constitution, not to engage in censorship or blacklist news sources based on political biases. By eliminating the Pentagon’s collaboration with censorship organizations, they hope to restore the integrity of the free press and preserve the democratic values upon which the United States was founded.
As the debate over the defense bill continues, it remains to be seen whether the amendment proposed by Representative McCormick will be included in the final version of the NDAA. However, the fact that House Republicans are taking a stand against the Pentagon’s censorship regime highlights the importance of protecting the freedom of speech and press in a democratic society.
