The United States Department of Defence has recently barred journalists from its press office. The move comes after reclassifying the space as a sensitive security area, part of a series of restrictions on media access since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez stated that the office was redesignated as a “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” due to its use by speechwriters who handle classified information. These staff require access to SIPRNet, the secure network used by the Pentagon for classified communications.
As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space. However, access to the office of the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and the Press Secretary remains available by appointment only.
This decision is part of a broader effort by the administration to limit media access to military and government institutions. In March, the Defence Department said it would no longer allow news organisations to maintain offices inside the Pentagon after a court ruling in favour of The New York Times in a lawsuit over new press credential rules.
The Pentagon has also introduced a requirement for journalists to be escorted inside the building, a policy that The New York Times is challenging in court. Critics argue that these restrictions are an escalation in efforts to limit scrutiny of the Pentagon and reduce transparency and public oversight.