Department Of War Implements New Guidelines For Media Access At The Pentagon

WASHINGTON—The Department of War is implementing new guidelines for what parts of the Pentagon are accessible to the press.

In a memo first obtained by The Daily Wire, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell shared “updated physical control measures for press/media access within the Pentagon.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had initially shared this information in May, but the Thursday memo implements those directives, requiring credentialed media to sign new documents essentially renewing the guidelines for access to the building.

Previously, Pentagon press had very easy access to the premises, an official close to the situation told The Daily Wire. Reporters could traverse the building much like the press can access the United States Capitol, and easily observe generals or high-ranking officials visiting with the Secretary of War or entering classified meeting rooms, allowing reporters to easily publicize the inner workings of the Pentagon.

We’re announcing additional credentialing procedures for press at the Pentagon in the interest of national security. pic.twitter.com/2fQA4z7AsO

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) May 23, 2025

“All members of the press issued a Pentagon Facility Alternate Credential (PFAC), will be required to read and sign a new in–brief form outlining information security requirements, the new physical control measures, and Department of War expectations of their compliance with safety and security requirements,” the memo states. It notes that in addition to the “Additional Press Identifier Badge,” the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) will start issuing new PFACS to the press in the coming weeks, giving priority to resident members of the media through September 30, and non-resident members of the media beginning October 1, 2025.

“These new PFACS will have ‘PRESS’ clearly imprinted on them in red letters both vertically and horizontally to assist in identifying members of the press,” the memo states. 

The Department of War requests the assistance of the media in making sure that all their staff are “aware of the physical control measures, including the requirement to provide escorts for any media coming into your spaces for approved interviews.” The memo also notes that  if any DOW personnel “see any news media outside of the areas depicted in Appendix D that do not have an escort, they should direct them back to the designated no–escort required areas and alert the Pentagon Press Operations office.” 

“Up until now, the press could wander all around the Pentagon with no oversight,” Parnell explained in May. “Even outside of sensitive/classified areas. So moving forward, they’ll need an escort to access those areas. They still have access to the entire defense press office, the press secretary & my office, as well as much of the rest of the building. These are pragmatic changes to protect operational security & ultimately brings the Pentagon in line with other government buildings.”

Up until now, the press could wander all around the Pentagon with no oversight. Even outside of sensitive/classified areas.
So moving forward, they’ll need an escort to access those areas.
They still have access to the entire defense press office, the press secretary & my office,… https://t.co/usJjF6HBSs

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) May 23, 2025

The move is likely to spark outrage from some corners of the media. Reporters from the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and Aviation Week protested back in May, and a CBS News reporter suggested that the measure was “aimed at making the Pentagon as difficult to cover as possible.”

“The next step is to ban reporters entirely from the Pentagon,” suggested CBS’s Dan Martin at the time.

“Such a stupid narrative,” Parnell fired back at the time. “Here’s the policy in a nutshell: Wear a media credential. Have an escort for sensitive areas. Just like every other U.S. military base on planet Earth. That’s it.”