A number of prominent US media outlets have refused to agree to a new Department of Defense press pass policy limiting what journalists can publish.

Journalists have until 5pm on Tuesday (8am Wednesday AEDT) to agree to the new guidelines, which were revised after a first draft stating that information "must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorising official before it is released, even if it is unclassified" was met with significant backlash, according to US reports.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the department, said in a statement circulated by US media that the updated rules still "appear designed to stifle a free press and potentially expose us to prosecution for simply doing our jobs".

Outlets including the New York Times, t

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