Pentagon Implements Annual Media Rotation Program, Displacing Long-Standing News Outlets

On Friday night, the Department of Defense revealed plans to initiate an "annual media rotation program" that will see several prominent news organizations, including NBC News, ousted from their longstanding office spaces at the Pentagon. This change was communicated via a memo that did not individually notify these outlets, mentioning that no further details would be shared regarding the process at this time.

The Department emphasized that for over fifty years, the Pentagon Press Corps has enjoyed dedicated office spaces, which facilitate critical access to high-ranking military and civilian officials. The Under Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, John Ullyot, indicated that this move aims to increase access for other media organizations that have not had the same level of access previously. Starting February 14, 2025, the new program will begin to rotate news organizations out of these dedicated spaces.

NBC News expressed disappointment over losing their broadcasting booth, which they have relied on for decades, stating that despite the challenges this creates for their reporting efforts, they would maintain their commitment to news integrity. This decision comes shortly after the Senate narrowly confirmed newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, amidst allegations regarding his conduct and treatment of women, which he has denied.

According to the memo, as organizations rotate out, they will be replaced in the Pentagon office spaces by One America News Network, the New York Post, Breitbart News Network, and HuffPost, with the inclusion of conservative and progressive outlets present among the incoming members. Meanwhile, NPR claimed this decision could hinder millions of Americans from accessing Pentagon communications and urged the Department to reconsider the expansion of available press office spaces.

The memo did not clarify how the rotation process will be managed or what criteria were used to determine which outlets would vacate. NBC has utilized their office for timely broadcasts, but it remains uncertain how they will continue covering news from the Pentagon once they have to dismantle their established infrastructure.

Despite the changes, the vacated outlets will still be eligible to attend Pentagon briefings and travel with Defense leaders, as they retain membership in the press corps. The Pentagon Press Association expressed serious concern about the implications of this decision on the media landscape, noting that they have historically welcomed new members while supporting long-time media representatives. In a different context, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on the previous administration's practices, promising to restore press passes to numerous journalists and promote a more inclusive atmosphere for diverse media voices.