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| Pentagon office space | Photo: NYT |
The Trump administration is removing four major news organizations, including The New York Times, from their office spaces at the Pentagon, reallocating these areas to other media outlets.
Announced late Friday, the unprecedented decision was justified by the need to accommodate new occupants. A document detailing the "New Annual Media Rotation Program" confirmed that The New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR), NBC News, and Politico must vacate their Pentagon offices by February 14.
In their place, The New York Post, One America News Network (OANN), Breitbart News Network, and HuffPost News will be granted office space.
Reacting to the decision, an NBC News spokesperson expressed disappointment, stating, “For decades, we have reported from the Pentagon. The revocation of our broadcast booth access is deeply concerning.” The spokesperson also noted that the move would significantly hinder their ability to cover national security issues but reaffirmed the network’s commitment to journalistic integrity.
Similarly, The New York Times issued a statement calling the action “clearly not in the public interest” but vowed to continue reporting on Pentagon affairs fully and objectively.
NPR urged the Defense Department to expand media access at the Pentagon so all news organizations could operate fairly.
In an internal memo to staff, Politico's senior managing editor Anita Kumar acknowledged the organization's discomfort with the decision.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the U.S. Department of Defense, strongly criticized the administration’s move, saying it found the decision to remove reputable media organizations deeply troubling.