Key Takeaways:

• Reporters now need appointments to enter the press secretary’s office
• New policy follows similar restrictions at the Pentagon
• White House cites concerns about sensitive information and unauthorized recordings
• Journalists say the rules hinder transparency and accountability

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WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) — The White House has introduced a new rule restricting access for credentialed journalists to the office of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and other senior communications officials in the West Wing. The policy, effective immediately, requires reporters to schedule an appointment before entering Room 140, also known as “Upper Press.”

The mandate, issued by the National Security Council (NSC), cites the need to protect sensitive material handled by the White House communications team. The memo states the changes stem from recent structural shifts within the NSC and its handling of classified information.

“In order to protect such material, and maintain coordination between National Security Council Staff and White House Communications Staff, members of the press are no longer permitted to access Room 140 without prior approval,” the memo reads.

This move comes just weeks after the Department of Defense implemented similar restrictions, forcing dozens of journalists to vacate Pentagon offices and return press credentials.

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White House Justifies Move, Citing Security Breaches

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the new rule, claiming that some reporters had been caught eavesdropping, secretly recording, and taking pictures of sensitive information without authorization.

Cheung said on social media platform X that reporters had also confronted Cabinet officials leaving private meetings, calling these incidents breaches of trust and security protocols.

Despite these changes, journalists will still have access to a separate area where lower-level staff conduct briefings, according to the NSC.

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Press Groups Condemn New Restrictions

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) criticized the new policy as a blow to transparency, saying it restricts the media’s ability to question top officials and hold the administration accountable.

“The White House Correspondents’ Association unequivocally opposes any effort to limit journalists from areas within the communications operations of the White House that have long been open for newsgathering,” said WHCA President Weijia Jiang.

A similar policy introduced during President Bill Clinton’s term in 1993 was eventually rolled back following intense media backlash.

The Trump administration also limited press access by removing major outlets like Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Associated Press from the regular press pool earlier this year, though it allowed intermittent participation.

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Pentagon Press Access Also Under Scrutiny

The White House restrictions follow growing press tensions at the Pentagon. In recent weeks, more than 30 major news organizations, including Reuters, refused to sign the Defense Department’s new press access policy, calling it a threat to press freedom.

The Pentagon’s policy requires journalists to agree not to solicit classified information. Those who violate the rule risk losing press credentials and being labeled security risks.