Defence Department

The US Defence Department, commonly known as the Pentagon, is the executive branch department responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national security and the United States Armed Forces. It is currently newsworthy due to two separate issues. First, a US judge has ordered the Pentagon to restore press access to credentialed reporters, following a ruling that the department was hampering journalists in defiance of a previous court order. This stems from a challenge by The New York Times and other news organizations. Second, the Pentagon is addressing reports of a rift with the Vatican following Pope Leo’s criticism of the Trump administration. Both the Pentagon and the Vatican have issued statements professing a desire for positive relations, characterizing a recent meeting between a papal envoy and a US defence official as frank but polite. These events highlight the Pentagon's role in managing both domestic and international relations.