Pentagon Bars Journalists from Press Office

(MENAFN) The Pentagon has converted its longtime press office into a classified facility, ending journalists' access to a workspace that for decades functioned as a central hub between reporters and military public affairs staff, according to a report by The Washington Post on Monday.

Citing sources familiar with the decision, the newspaper reported that the move was partly driven by internal restructuring that shifted Pentagon speechwriters into the public affairs office.

The redesignated facility is also being outfitted with access to the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), a secure government communications system used for handling classified information.

“The Pentagon Press Office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility,” acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

He added that the speechwriters "routinely handle classified material and require SIPRNet access."

"As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space," Valdez said. "Access to the office of the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and to the Press Secretary remains available by appointment only."

The change comes as the Pentagon faces a continuing legal battle over media access to unclassified sections of the building. Historically, accredited reporters were allowed to move through designated public areas inside the Defense Department, enabling them to interact with officials, develop sources, and attend regular briefings without escorts.

The latest restriction marks a significant shift in the relationship between the military and the press, limiting access to a space long viewed as a key point of contact for day-to-day reporting on defense matters.

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