• The Trump administration will rotate out major news organizations from their Pentagon office spaces.
• Those affected include The New York Times, NBC News, NPR, and Politico.
• New spaces will be allocated to One America News Network, Breitbart News, The New York Post, and HuffPost.
• The changes are set to take effect on February 14, 2025, as part of a new annual media rotation program.
• This move has raised significant concerns among journalists about the implications for media coverage from the Pentagon.

In a significant shift regarding media coverage within the Pentagon, the Trump administration announced late Friday that it would replace established news organizations with less traditional, more pro-Trump outlets as part of a new annual media rotation program. This change impacts major outlets—including The New York Times, NBC News, NPR, and Politico—which must vacate their dedicated office spaces by February 14, 2025. In their place, the Pentagon will welcome The New York Post, One America News Network, Breitbart News, and HuffPost News, shifting the dynamics of journalistic access at one of the country's most significant military institutions.

Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot stated in an internal memo that this rotation aims to broaden access to the limited workspace available in the Correspondents' Corridor, allowing outlets that have not previously reported from the building to gain residency among the Pentagon Press Corps. Each year, one organization from each medium—print, online, television, and radio—will see their access exchanged with new participants. “The existing outlets will continue to maintain their membership in the Pentagon press corps but must give up their physical work locations,” Ullyot noted in the memo.

Reaction from the affected news organizations has been swift and critical. An NBC News spokesperson expressed disappointment, stating, “Despite the significant obstacles this presents to our ability to gather and report news in the national public interest, we will continue to report with the same integrity and rigor NBC News always has.” Similarly, NPR voiced concerns that this decision would hinder its mission to serve Americans and called on the Department of Defense to expand available office spaces to facilitate equal access for all press outlets.

In contrast, some praise for this initiative aligns with the Trump administration's strategy to introduce new media into traditional reporting spaces, ostensibly to diversify voices present in the national conversation about military affairs. Former vice president of the Pentagon Press Association, Kevin Baron, however, criticized this overhaul, claiming it undermines reliable journalism in favor of politically aligned media.

A statement from the Pentagon Press Association reflected the prevailing sentiment among journalists, asserting they were “greatly troubled by this unprecedented move”, which they believe emphasizes bias against established news organizations in favor of partisan outlets.

This media rotation is part of a broader effort by the Trump Administration to reshape the narratives surrounding government coverage, continuing the strategy that sparked significant media access debates since the start of the president's term. For more context on this evolving situation, read the comprehensive reports by Reuters, CNN, and The Guardian.