Hegseth Puts Limits on Press Access at the Pentagon

MAY 27, 2025 – The DoD is implementing new restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the changes in a memo last Friday.

The new policies vastly limit access for credentialed media while inside the Pentagon complex in Arlington, Va.

The memo is detailed below:

The Department of Defense’ s (DoD) highest priority is the defense of our Nation and our national security. Per reference (a), the protection of classified national intelligence information (CNSI) and sensitive, unclassified information, including information deemed critical to operations security (OPSEC), remains an unwavering imperative for the Department. Per reference (b ), the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense recently directed an investigation into unauthorized disclosures.

While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CNSI and sensitive information – the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger. To attain professional balance between press access and OPSEC, the following updated security measures for resident and visiting press are needed to reduce the opportunities for in-person inadvertent and unauthorized disclosures.

Effective immediately, the Secretary of Defense directs the following control measures for all resident and visiting press who have been issued a Pentagon Facilities Alternate Credential (PF AC) for the Pentagon:

1. Press/media are not authorized entry/access to the Secretary of Defense physical office spaces located on the 3rd floor, ring E, between corridors 9 and 8 without an official approval and escort from the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OATSD(PA)).
2. Press/media are not authorized entry/access to the Joint Staff physical office spaces located on the 2nd floor between corridors 9 and 7, rings A through E, without official approval from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OSD(PA)) and escort by personnel from the Joint Staff Public Affairs Office.
3. Press/media are only authorized unescorted access in the Pentagon on rings A through E on the 2nd floor of the Pentagon between the “Metro Entrance” at corridors 1 and 10 and the “River Entrance” at corridors 8 and 9 via and to the Pentagon Courtyard and Food Court (located between corridor 1 and 10 on the 1st Floor). The exception is noted in paragraph 2 (above).
4. If press require access to other areas/offices within the Pentagon for “in-person” interviews ( or other engagements), they are required to be formally escorted to and from those respective offices by authorized DoD personnel from those specific offices/ Agencies/Military Departments.
5. Press/media are no longer authorized access to the Pentagon Athletic Center.

In coming weeks, Pentagon Press Corps members will be required to complete an updated in-briefing form explaining their responsibilities to protect CNSI and sensitive information and reissued a new style of PFAC with a clearer “PRESS” identifier on their badge. We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhance scrutiny on the issuance of PFACs.

OSD(PA) will coordinate the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to ensure compliance with these additional security controls, including new PFACs. Failure by any member of the resident or visiting press to comply with these control measures will result in further restrictions and possibly revocation of press credentials.