The Department of Defense has ordered long-established media outlets to vacate their dedicated office spaces at the Pentagon, making way for news organizations that had previously been shut out. NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico were informed they must leave within two weeks under a new “annual media rotation program.”
The policy, aimed at broadening press access, replaces the outgoing outlets with One America News, Breitbart News, the New York Post, and HuffPost. While HuffPost leans left, the other three are considered more conservative, sparking backlash from legacy media figures who claim the move is politically motivated.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who took office just one week prior, has been a vocal critic of mainstream coverage of U.S. military operations. The decision comes after years of concerns that legacy media outlets have misrepresented key issues such as America’s role in Ukraine.
NBC News called the change “disappointing,” while NPR argued that the move interferes with its “public interest mission.” Politico voiced concerns that losing its Pentagon office would hinder its ability to report breaking news. However, Pentagon officials confirmed that all affected outlets still retain full access to press briefings and interviews.
The rotation program does not ban any media organization from covering the Pentagon. Instead, it ensures that more voices have the opportunity to report from inside the building. The Pentagon has not yet released details on how long each rotation will last or what criteria will determine future assignments.
This shift follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to open press access to a wider range of journalists. The White House recently restored press passes to independent reporters and has signaled further changes to how the media interacts with government officials.
