Pentagon Restricts Journalist Access After Office Redesignated as Classified Space

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Washington DC: Journalists will no longer be allowed inside the Pentagon press office after it was redesignated as a classified security facility, marking a sharp tightening of media access to the U.S. defense headquarters.

Defense Department spokesperson José Valdez said the change was made because staff, including speechwriters handling classified material, operate in the same space. As a result, reporters will be barred from entering the office entirely.

The decision comes amid broader restrictions on press access introduced in recent months, including limits on gathering and publishing information not officially cleared for release. Many journalists have refused the new rules and returned their press credentials.

The Pentagon has faced multiple legal challenges over its media policies, with critics arguing the measures undermine independent reporting, while officials insist they are necessary for security.

Pic Credit: AFP