The Department of Defense has announced a major shake-up in the Pentagon press corps, ordering longtime mainstream outlets to vacate their dedicated office spaces. NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico have been told to clear out, with new media organizations taking their place.
The newly implemented “annual media rotation program” will allow news organizations that have not previously had Pentagon offices to move in. The incoming outlets include One America News, Breitbart News, the New York Post, and HuffPost. While the latter leans left, the other three are considered more conservative, leading to backlash from some in the media.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who took office just a week prior, has made it clear that the Trump administration wants to change how military news is covered. The mainstream media has been accused of misleading the public on defense matters, particularly regarding U.S. involvement in Ukraine.
Major outlets losing their offices have criticized the decision, with NBC News calling it “disappointing” and NPR arguing that it harms its “public interest mission.” Politico has described the move as “deeply concerning.” However, Pentagon officials clarified that no news organizations have been banned from covering the department. Reporters will still have access to briefings and military officials.
The Pentagon has not specified how future media rotations will be determined, but the new system represents a dramatic change in how press access is handled. For decades, the same outlets dominated Pentagon reporting, while others struggled to gain the same level of access.
The Trump administration has signaled that this is only the beginning of broader media reforms. The White House recently restored press credentials to independent journalists and has promised to open up access to a wider range of voices.
