The Pentagon's recent decision to implement an annual media rotation program, announced by the Trump administration, has sparked controversy and concern among major news organizations. Late on Friday, it was revealed through a memo sent to the Pentagon Press Corps, informing them of its intention to remove four well-established media outlets from their dedicated office spaces, effective February 14, 2025.
The memo specified the removal of The New York Times, NBC News, National Public Radio (NPR), and Politico, who will be replaced by conservative outlets including The New York Post, One America News Network (OANN), Breitbart News, and HuffPost. This unprecedented move aims to introduce new media perspectives within the Pentagon, according to Pentagon officials.
“To allow new outlets from the same medium to have the unique opportunity to report as resident members of the Pentagon Press Corps,” the memo stated, highlighting the rationale behind the rotation program. John Ullyot, acting assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, affirmed, "The outlets vacated will remain full members of the Pentagon Press Corps; the only change will be giving up their physical work spaces.”
Despite the apparent intentions to diversify media coverage, the decision has not sat well with the affected organizations. An NBC News spokesperson expressed disappointment over being denied access to their broadcasting booth, which they have occupied for many decades. "Despite the significant obstacles this presents to our ability to gather and report news in the national public interest," they assured the public, "we will continue to report with the same integrity and rigor NBC News always has.”
The affected outlets were not individually notified of the decision, learning about it through the aforementioned memo and accompanying email, which stated, "no additional information will be provided at this time." This lack of transparency has fueled concerns among journalists about how the Pentagon is handling media relations and access.
At the heart of the controversy is the composition of the new organizations moving in. Notably, the three new outlets—OANN, The New York Post, and Breitbart—are known for their strong pro-Trump sentiments. HuffPost is the only outlet among the new entrants with a more progressive stance, but its lack of previous coverage from the Pentagon raises questions about its ability to effectively report from within the newly assigned space.
The Pentagon Press Association, which advocates for journalists covering the Defense Department, voiced serious concerns about this move. Their statement expressed being "greatly troubled by this unprecedented move by DOD" and emphasized the longstanding professional standards upheld by the now-vacated outlets.
While the Pentagon's new rotation plan has met with criticism, supporters of the initiative argue it offers opportunities for other media voices to be represented. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned the intention to "open up the briefing room to new media voices.”
It is unclear, though, how exactly the Pentagon will implement this rotation program moving forward or how it will designate future media organizations eligible for inclusion. Questions remain about the criteria used for determining the order of rotation, the length of time each outlet may occupy the space, and how the decisions reflect the administration's broader media engagement strategy.
The Pentagon hosts more than two dozen news organizations, including Reuters, which regularly report on military operations and related matters. Observers now wonder how the dynamics within the press corps will change with these pending shifts.
Critics warn this might undermine the independent reporting previously held by major media outlets with established histories of accountability and rigorous journalism at the Pentagon. "For over half a century, the Pentagon Press Corps has benefited from working out of individual office spaces, which provide coveted and open access to some of the Department’s top military and civilian leaders,” read the memo from Ullyot, hinting at the traditional role media has played within the building.
This situation is made more complex by the recent confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following extensive media scrutiny over alleged inappropriate behavior and controversies surrounding his leadership style. The optics of this rotation program include elements of political maneuvering, raising ethical questions surrounding media access based on perceived ideological alignment.
Regardless of the motivation behind the media rotation program, one thing is increasingly clear: the relationship between the Pentagon and the press is undergoing significant upheaval. With the implementation date fast approaching, the impact of this controversial change remains to be seen, but the discussions surrounding media diversity, representation, and access will certainly linger well beyond February 14.