White House Tightens Press Office Access

The White House, on Friday, unveiled a new regulation limiting credentialed journalists' access to the offices of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and other top communications officials within the West Wing, close to the Oval Office.

A memorandum released late Friday stipulates that journalists are banned from entering Room 140, dubbed "Upper Press," without a prior appointment. The administration cites the necessity to shield potentially sensitive material as the reason for this change, which is to be implemented immediately.

This move by the White House mirrors the restrictions placed on credentialed reporters earlier this month at the Department of Defense, a decision that led to scores of journalists vacating their Pentagon offices and surrendering their credentials.