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The Pentagon has banned journalists from entering its Press Office, in a new move that limits media access to the United States Department of Defense.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Joel Valdez confirmed the decision through a post on the X platform, explaining that the space has been reclassified as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), a category used for facilities where classified information is handled.
According to Valdez, the change is related to the fact that this office now also includes speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, who use and process confidential materials.
"The Pentagon Press Office is now designated as a SCIF, as it employs speechwriters who share the same space. They regularly deal with classified material, and therefore, journalists are no longer allowed to enter the premises," Valdez declared, adding that the decision contains "nothing controversial."
According to initial reporting by The Washington Post, the move comes at a time of heightened tensions between the American media and the administration of President Donald Trump.
For years, accredited journalists at the Pentagon had wide access to the building and could communicate directly with press officers. However, in October of last year, most media outlets gave up their offices inside the Pentagon in defiance of new restrictions imposed by authorities.
The legal battles began in December, when the first lawsuit was filed against the policy requiring journalists to be constantly escorted while moving around the Pentagon. The policy went into effect in March, following an appeals court ruling.
On May 18, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense, arguing that the requirement to escort journalists into Pentagon premises violates the First Amendment to the US Constitution and constitutes an unconstitutional attempt to limit independent reporting on military matters.
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