White House Imposes New Restrictions on Press Access to Key Offices

The White House has announced fresh restrictions on journalists' access to high-level communication offices, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt's workspace, citing reasons of security and the protection of sensitive material. The National Security Council specified that reporters must now secure prior appointments to access Room 140, located near the Oval Office.

This decision mirrors recent limitations imposed by the Department of Defense and has led to journalists vacating offices within the Pentagon due to new credentialing policies. Concerns have been raised by advocacy groups about the impact of these restrictions on journalistic freedoms and government transparency.

The White House Correspondents' Association has strongly opposed the new rules, arguing they impede reporters' abilities to hold government officials accountable. Instances of secret recording and unauthorized eavesdropping have been cited as part of the rationale for the changes, emphasizing a need for stricter security measures.