A new White House rule issued on Friday restricts the ability of credentialed journalists to freely access the offices of press secretary Karoline Leavitt and other top communications officials in the West Wing, near the Oval Office.
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The new memorandum from the National Security Council bans journalists from accessing Room 140, also known as “Upper Press”, without a prior appointment, citing the need to protect potentially sensitive material.
It said the change would take effect immediately.
The new rule follows restrictions put in place earlier this month for reporters at the Department of Defence, a move that prompted dozens of journalists to vacate their offices in the Pentagon and return their credentials.
The National Security Council said the change was made to protect sensitive material now being routinely handled by White House communications officials as a result of changes to the council.
“In order to protect such material, and maintain coordination between National Security Council Staff and White House Communications Staff, members of the press are no longer permitted to access Room 140 without prior approval in the form of an appointment with an authorised White House Staff Member,” the memo said.