A significant shift in media access to the Pentagon has been announced. Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed head of the Department of Defense, implemented a “rotation program” affecting press office space. This program will see established news organizations like NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico lose their dedicated spaces, replaced by several conservative outlets, including one that did not even request space.
The Pentagon’s press area traditionally offers dedicated office space, briefing room access, and broadcast capabilities. The new policy, announced without explanation, involves rotating four outlets annually. While existing credentials remain valid, and shared resources are available to all, the loss of dedicated space is a significant change.
The selection process and future rotation criteria remain undisclosed. The replacement outlets don’t mirror the displaced ones; for instance, NPR's loss isn't compensated by another audio-focused outlet. Furthermore, the incoming organizations boast significantly smaller reach compared to their predecessors. “In order to broaden access to the limited space of the Correspondents’ Corridor to outlets that have not previously enjoyed the privilege and journalist value of working from physical office space in the Pentagon, beginning Feb. 14, 2025,” explained spokesperson John Ullyot.
Notice was delivered via a memo, leaving affected outlets surprised and concerned. NBC News, a major broadcast network, is replaced by OAN, a right-leaning channel known for misinformation. The New York Times, NPR, and Politico also lose their spaces, replaced by The New York Post, Breitbart, and HuffPost, respectively. HuffPost, a left-leaning outlet, is the only non-conservative organization gaining space, and they did not request the assignment.
This decision raises concerns about fairness and media diversity. The move elevates outlets known for bias and misinformation to prominent positions. The Pentagon Press Association expressed deep concern, viewing the change as an attempt to “single out” specific media organizations. The lack of transparency around the decision's reasoning further fuels these concerns. While the White House has shown similar tendencies toward restricting access and favoring certain media outlets, this Pentagon decision is generating significant controversy.