Journalists barred from US Defense Department press office due to security concerns

US Department of Defense Restricts Journalist Access to Press Office

The US Department of Defense has re-designated its press office as a “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” due to the presence of speechwriters with access to classified government information. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez stated that journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space, citing the need for secure computer network access.

According to Valdez, the re-designation is necessary to protect sensitive information. The press office’s Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Press Secretary remain accessible by appointment only. This move follows previous restrictions on media access, including the decision not to allow media outlets to maintain offices at the Pentagon and the requirement of an official escort for journalists within the complex.

The National Press Club has condemned this latest restriction as a “troubling escalation” in efforts to curtail media scrutiny of the Pentagon. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has also criticized the move, stating that it is unclear what basis there is for classifying the information released by the Pentagon.

The Department of Defense’s actions have been met with criticism from advocacy groups and journalists. The Washington Post first reported the change.

Source: Al Jazeera