The Pentagon has further tightened restrictions on journalists by designating its press office area as a controlled space subject to secrecy regulations, preventing reporters from entering a section they previously had access to.
The move was announced on Monday by Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez, who said the decision was made because the office employs staff responsible for speechwriting and handling classified documents.
“As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter” the area, Valdez said in a statement.
Restrictions introduced after Trump’s return
The new measure is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on media organisations since the return of Donald Trump to the White House on 20 January 2025.
In October, the Pentagon issued a directive requiring accredited journalists not to request or publish certain information without explicit approval from the department. Violations could result in the loss of media credentials.
The policy was widely criticised by US and international media organisations, including the AFP news agency.
Court challenge and further measures
Following a legal challenge led by The New York Times, a federal judge ruled in March that significant parts of the accreditation policy violated provisions of the US Constitution.
Despite the ruling, the Pentagon has introduced additional restrictions on journalists’ movements within the building.
Reporters are now required to be accompanied outside designated zones, while officials have also closed a section previously reserved for media personnel, known as the “Correspondents’ Corridor”.
Concerns over press freedom
The latest changes are expected to fuel further debate over press freedom and media access within the US defence establishment, as journalists face increasing limitations on their ability to operate inside the Pentagon.
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