An aerial view of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Department of Defense has announced changes to media access within the building as part of a new annual rotation policy. (DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase)

The Pentagon has announced a new media rotation policy that will reassign several major news organizations from their long-held office spaces in favor of different outlets. Under this policy, the New York Times, NBC News, National Public Radio (NPR), and Politico will be required to vacate their Pentagon offices by February 14, 2025. Taking their places will be One America News Network (OANN), Breitbart News, the New York Post, and HuffPost.

According to the Department of Defense, the Annual Media Rotation Program aims to introduce new perspectives to the Pentagon Press Corps by providing workspaces to outlets that have not previously had dedicated access. A memo issued by Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot explained that the program is intended to broaden access to media organizations that have not previously been part of the Correspondents’ Corridor.

The decision has sparked backlash from the affected news outlets, with many questioning the timing and reasoning behind the change. NBC News expressed disappointment over losing its long-standing broadcasting booth, emphasizing that this move will create challenges for real-time reporting. The New York Times released a statement affirming its commitment to covering the Pentagon fully and fairly, despite the change. NPR urged the Department of Defense to expand available space instead of forcing established outlets to leave, arguing that this decision will limit public access to information. Politico echoed similar concerns, stating that independent and investigative reporting must be protected.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the Department of Defense, described the decision as unprecedented and urged the Pentagon to reconsider. However, Pentagon officials emphasized that affected outlets will retain their access to press briefings and official events, though they will no longer have designated office spaces within the building.

Critics argue that this move disrupts the balance of media representation, as three of the four incoming outlets—OANN, Breitbart, and the New York Post—are widely associated with conservative viewpoints. Meanwhile, HuffPost, known for its progressive lean, was added despite not having a Pentagon correspondent at the time of the announcement.

The media shake-up comes at a sensitive moment for the Trump administration, just days after the Senate confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His nomination was controversial due to reports about his past behavior, including allegations regarding his conduct and treatment of colleagues. Several of the affected outlets, including NBC News, covered these allegations in depth, raising speculation about whether the media reassignment was related to their reporting.

The shift also aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to introduce alternative voices into the mainstream press landscape. At a recent White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt called on non-traditional media representatives, signaling a push to diversify the range of journalists covering government affairs.

While Pentagon officials insist this is part of an effort to provide equal opportunity for media organizations, many within the journalism industry view it as a potential attempt to influence the composition of the press corps covering national security matters.

With the new policy set to take effect on February 14, questions remain about how this shift will impact Pentagon coverage and whether further changes to press access will follow in the coming months.

Media outlets with dedicated office space before 2/14/25:

  • The New York Times – leaving Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • NBC News – leaving Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • National Public Radio (NPR) – leaving Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • Politico – leaving Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • Reuters
  • Associated Press (AP)
  • CNN
  • Fox News
  • ABC News
  • CBS News
  • Bloomberg News
  • Defense News
  • Al Jazeera
  • BBC News
  • The Washington Post
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Agence France-Presse (AFP)
  • Financial Times
  • Voice of America (VOA)
  • Stars and Stripes

Media outlets with dedicated office space after 2/14/25:

  • Reuters
  • Associated Press (AP)
  • CNN
  • Fox News
  • ABC News
  • CBS News
  • Bloomberg News
  • Defense News
  • Al Jazeera
  • BBC News
  • The Washington Post
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Agence France-Presse (AFP)
  • Financial Times
  • Voice of America (VOA)
  • Stars and Stripes
  • The New York Post – entering Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • One America News Network (OANN) – entering Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • Breitbart News – entering Pentagon offices by 2/14/25
  • HuffPost – entering Pentagon offices by 2/14/25

Image is in the public domain and was created by Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase, DOD.