Journalists blocked from key White House offices under new rule

#Journalists #blocked #key #White #House #offices #rule

Under a new directive announced Friday, the White House has restricted reporters’ access to West Wing offices used by press secretary Carolyn Leavitt and other top communications aides.

A new National Security Council memo prohibits journalists from accessing Room 140, also known as the “Upper Press,” without prior appointment, citing the need to protect potentially sensitive material. The change will take effect immediately, he said.

The White House move follows restrictions placed on Defense Department reporters earlier this month, forcing dozens of journalists to vacate their offices at the Pentagon and return their credentials.

The National Security Council said the change was made to protect sensitive material now routinely handled by White House communications officials as a result of changes to the council.

“To protect such material, and to maintain coordination between National Security Council staff and the White House communications staff, members of the press are no longer permitted access to Room 140 without prior approval in the event of a meeting with an authorized White House staff member,” the memo said.

Earlier, authorized White House reporters could gain access to Room 140, a short hallway from the Oval Office, on short notice for his deputy, Steven Cheung, and other senior officials to speak with Levitt.

“Some reporters have been caught secretly recording video and audio of our offices, along with images of sensitive information, without permission,” Cheung wrote in a post on X, noting that some reporters roam restricted areas or sneak into private, closed-door meetings.

“Cabinet secretaries routinely come to our office for private meetings, only to be ambushed by reporters outside our doors,” Cheung wrote.

The council memo said reporters could still access another area where lower-level White House spokespeople have desks.

The White House Correspondents Association, which represents journalists covering the White House, said the new restrictions would hinder journalists’ ability to question officials, ensure transparency and hold the government accountable.

“The Association of White House Correspondents unequivocally opposes any attempt to restrict reporters from dealing with White House communications functions that have long been open to newsgathering, including the press secretary’s office.”

Former President Bill Clinton’s administration announced similar measures in 1993, but later scrapped the measures after a firestorm of criticism.

The Trump administration removed Reuters, Associated Press and Bloomberg News from the permanent “pool” of reporters covering the president months ago, though it allows those outlets to participate on a sporadic basis.

Friday’s announcement comes weeks after a crackdown on press access by the Defense Department, which now requires news outlets to sign a new policy or lose press credentials and access to Pentagon workspaces.

At least 30 news organizations, including Reuters, have refused to agree to the Pentagon’s sanctions, citing threats to press freedoms and a threat to their ability to conduct independent news.

Pentagon policy calls for journalists to accept new rules on press access, including that they can be named security risks and have their Pentagon press badges revoked if they ask department employees to disclose classified and certain types of undisclosed information.