Pentagon Halts Official Social Media Activity for Policy Review
Review Aims to Align Messaging with New Administration’s Priorities
The Department of Defense (DoD) has temporarily paused all official social media activity to ensure its messaging aligns with the second Trump administration’s priorities, according to three U.S. defense officials.
Officials told NBC News that a formal memo outlining the new guidelines was issued on Friday. However, service members and non-military employees were informed through word of mouth beginning Thursday to stop posting on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and other official social media accounts. By the time the memo was circulated, many DoD-affiliated accounts had already gone silent.
The social media pause is set to last until February 3, per the memo. Exceptions have been granted for posts related to the administration’s mission at the southern border and informational updates on base operations, road closures, clinic and school delays, and recruiting efforts. DoD personnel are also permitted to share official announcements from the White House account.
The Pentagon’s review aims to ensure that its vast online presence, which reaches millions of followers, is aligned with the administration’s defense priorities. The department is working to maintain consistency in its messaging to reflect the Trump administration’s goals.
Additionally, the Pentagon plans to update the branding of various social media accounts to ensure they align with the new administration’s standards.