0
The Pentagon logo in the Pentagon briefing room in Arlington, Virginia. / Photo via Reuters, Yonhap News

The Washington Post reported on the 1st (local time) that the U.S. Department of Defense, which has been restricting media coverage, has now barred journalists from accessing its press office.

According to the WP, the Pentagon designated the press office as a secure zone, preventing reporters from entering freely. Journalists can now meet with press officials only by making an appointment in advance.

The Pentagon's media clampdown began in earnest after Secretary Pete Hegseth took office in January last year.

Last October, the Department of Defense required reporters to sign a pledge stating that their press credentials could be revoked if they covered classified or controlled unclassified information without authorization. In protest, journalists returned their credentials and vacated the press room.

Regarding these measures, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense, and last March, a court ruled that the Pentagon's actions violated the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.

The Department of Defense appealed the ruling, and subsequently introduced policies including closing the press room inside the main building and mandating that reporters be accompanied by Pentagon staff.

The Pentagon explained that the latest measure follows an organizational restructuring that moved the Department's speechwriters into the press office. This is because speechwriters handle classified materials and must utilize the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet).

"The press office has been designated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility as it shares space with speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary," a Pentagon official stated. "Consequently, journalists are no longer permitted to access this space."

The WP noted that these measures by the Pentagon stand in contrast to the media operations of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Unlike the Department of Defense, the State Department and the White House allow access for journalists and maintain open media access by regularly engaging with reporters.

                                                                                                          Park Jin-sook