Pentagon announced a significant reorganization of its press corps that will see four legacy media outlets lose their workspace access, making room for three conservative and one progressive news outlets.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's office issued a directive requiring NBC News, The New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR), and Politico to vacate their Pentagon offices within two weeks.
They will be reassigned to the New York Post, Breitbart News, One America News Network (OANN), and HuffPost.
Acting Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot described the change as part of an annual rotation system where one outlet from each media category, print, online, television, and radio, will give up their workspace to allow new organizations access to the Pentagon's Correspondents Corridor.
"For more than 50 years, the Pentagon Press Corps has benefited from individual office spaces that provide valuable access to the Department's senior military and civilian leadership," Ullyot said in a memo to the Pentagon Press Association.
The announcement aligns with broader media access changes under the Trump administration, which earlier this week announced plans to expand White House press briefing access to new media outlets.
The White House is also reversing the Biden administration's earlier revocation of approximately 400 press passes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the changes during her first briefing, citing declining public trust in traditional media.
"Americans trust in mass media has fallen to a record low, according to recent Gallup polling," said Leavitt.
"Millions of Americans, particularly young people, now get their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets."
The selection of replacement media outlets has raised questions.
Breitbart News, chosen to replace NPR in the radio category, maintains a limited radio presence through a SiriusXM distribution agreement and one podcast.
Similarly, OANN, selected to replace NBC News, operates on a significantly smaller scale than the national broadcaster and does not participate in Nielsen ratings measurements.
NBC News expressed disappointment with the decision in a statement.
“We're disappointed to lose access to a broadcasting booth we've used for many decades. Despite these significant obstacles to gathering and reporting news in the national public interest, we will maintain our commitment to integrity and rigorous journalism,” said NBC News.
HuffPost appeared more optimistic about the change.
"If the Trump Administration and Secretary Hegseth want more hard-hitting coverage of their Defence Department leadership from HuffPost, we are ready to deliver,” said a HuffPost spokesperson.
The reorganization has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates and experienced Pentagon correspondents.
Kevin Baron, who previously served as vice president of the Pentagon Press Association, expressed his negative opinion of the changes on Twitter/X.
“The erasure of journalism at the Pentagon. Replaced with fake news partisans like Breitbart, OANN, and NY Post. And HuffPo (they still exist?) for fake balance. Trump/MAGA’s fascist takeover of media coverage of the regime continues,” said Baron.
National Press Club (NPC) expressed concern about the implications for press freedom.
"Any action limiting journalists ability to report on U.S. government operations should concern everyone who values transparency and press freedom," said NPC President Mike Balsamo in a statement.
Some Pentagon press corps members have questioned whether the selection of outlets for removal might be connected to their coverage of Hegseth, who recently transitioned from his role as a Fox News host to Defence Secretary.
The changes take effect on February 15, giving the affected media organizations two weeks to vacate their offices.