The Trump administration has removed several mainstream media outlets from their Pentagon offices, allowing new organizations to take their place. NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico must vacate their spaces, marking a significant shift in how military news will be covered.
Under the new “annual media rotation program,” the Department of Defense aims to provide Pentagon press access to outlets that have not previously had it. Taking over the office spaces will be One America News, Breitbart News, the New York Post, and HuffPost. The decision has sparked outrage from the legacy media, with some accusing the administration of playing favorites.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has defended the move, stating that it ensures broader press access. The Trump administration has long been critical of legacy media coverage of military affairs, particularly regarding conflicts overseas. Critics say the mainstream press has misled the public on issues like the war in Ukraine.
NBC News called the decision “disappointing” and said it would make military reporting more difficult. NPR has urged the Pentagon to “expand the number of available press offices” instead of rotating them out. Politico and other outlets have described the decision as harmful to press access.
Despite the criticism, the affected outlets still retain full press credentials, allowing them to attend Pentagon briefings and report on military affairs. The new arrangement only impacts their ability to maintain a physical office inside the Pentagon.
It remains unclear how future rotations will be handled or whether additional outlets will be cycled in. However, this move ensures that a more diverse group of media organizations will now have access to direct reporting on defense matters.
