By Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department announced on Friday that there would be significant alterations within its operations as part of a new “annual media rotation program.” As a result, the department has decided to double the number of news organizations required to vacate their current office spaces within the Pentagon. This move will pave the way for other media outlets to take over the vacated spaces.
In a memo released by the department, CNN, the Washington Post, the Hill, and the War Zone have been added to the list of organizations that must relinquish their dedicated workspaces. Requests for comments from these organizations have not yet elicited any response.
This announcement comes shortly after the initial round of changes, where the New York Times, NBC News, Politico, and National Public Radio were also instructed to vacate their Pentagon offices. The incoming media outlets set to occupy these spaces include the New York Post, Breitbart, the Washington Examiner, the Free Press, the Daily Caller, Newsmax, the Huffington Post, and One America News Network. These new additions are mostly perceived as conservative or aligned with Republican President Donald Trump, who assumed office on January 20.
The memo highlighted that the outgoing news organizations will remain part of the Pentagon Press Corps, emphasizing that the rotation aims to create space for other media outlets. Currently, over two dozen news organizations operate within the Pentagon, including Reuters, providing coverage of the daily activities of the U.S. military.
Expressing dismay at the Defense Department’s decision, the Pentagon Press Association, representing journalists covering defense matters, stated that it was “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the sudden increase in the number of news organizations being asked to vacate their workspaces.
It is worth noting that Reuters correspondent Phil Stewart serves as a member of the association’s four-member board of directors.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart in Washington)
