The U.S. Defense Department has expanded its controversial media rotation program, ordering additional news organizations to vacate their Pentagon office spaces. In a memo issued Friday, the department announced that CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill, and The War Zone must now relinquish their dedicated workspaces. This follows last week's directive requiring The New York Times, NBC News, Politico, and NPR to do the same.
The Pentagon says the rotation is meant to create opportunities for other media outlets. Replacing the evicted organizations are The New York Post, Breitbart, The Washington Examiner, The Free Press, The Daily Caller, Newsmax, The Huffington Post, and One America News Network. Many of these incoming outlets lean conservative or align with former President Donald Trump, who returned to office on January 20.
Despite losing physical office space, the affected organizations remain part of the Pentagon Press Corps. The Pentagon Press Association, representing journalists covering the Defense Department, expressed outrage, stating it was "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the expanded removal.
More than two dozen news organizations, including Reuters, continue reporting from the Pentagon. However, concerns over press access and impartiality have fueled criticism. The rotation program has sparked debate over potential political motivations behind the selections, given the shift in media representation.
This move marks a significant change in the Pentagon's press policy, raising questions about transparency and press freedom within the U.S. government.