US Defense Department bars journalists from its press office
Summary
The US Department of Defense has blocked journalists from entering its press office because it is now designated as a secured space due to speechwriters handling classified information there. Journalists can still access the Press Secretary’s office but must make appointments, reflecting ongoing limits on media access to the Pentagon under President Donald Trump’s administration.Key Facts
- The Pentagon press office is now called a “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” due to classified work done by speechwriters.
- Speechwriters in the office use a secure network called SIPRNet to handle classified information.
- Journalists are no longer allowed inside the main press office but can visit by appointment.
- The Defense Department stopped allowing media outlets to have permanent offices in the Pentagon earlier this year.
- Journalists now need official escorts when inside the Pentagon complex.
- The National Press Club called the restrictions a concerning step that reduces transparency and public oversight.
- The Freedom of the Press Foundation criticized the Pentagon’s claim that the press office needed to be classified.
- These changes are part of several media access limits introduced since President Donald Trump took office again in 2024.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.