Pentagon barred journalists from its press office after redesignating it a classified 'SCIF'
On June 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Defense barred journalists from the Pentagon press office, announcing it had redesignated the space as a "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" because speechwriters who handle classified material work there. Acting press secretary Joel Valdez disclosed the change in a post on X, saying reporters could no longer enter to meet public affairs officers and could reach the press secretary or the public affairs office only by appointment. The move extended a running series of Pentagon restrictions on press access dating to 2025.
