Pentagon bars journalists from entering its press office citing re-designation The Pentagon has barred journalists from entering its press office, redesignating it as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility due to the presence of speechwriters handling classified material. This action follows a series of escalating restrictions on press access implemented by the defense department, including demands for journalists to only report authorized information and a controversial move to create a “next generation” press corps from far-right outlets. These policies have faced legal challenges, with the New York Times suing the Pentagon multiple times over designated journalists as “security risks” and restrictions on access.

• Journalists are no longer permitted to enter the Pentagon’s press office.
• The press office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).
• This redesignation is due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility and handling classified material.
• The Trump administration, preferring ‘war department’ over ‘defense department’, has been implementing new press restrictions since September.
• These restrictions include demanding journalists pledge not to gather unauthorized information or risk press pass revocation.
• The Pentagon announced a “next generation of the Pentagon press corps” featuring journalists from far-right outlets.
• The New York Times has sued the Pentagon multiple times over these restrictive policies, with a federal judge initially ruling in their favor.
• An interim policy requiring journalists to have an official escort was implemented, and despite a judge ruling it violated his order, it remained in place due to an appeals court stay.