Late Friday afternoon, the National Security Council released a memo announcing that a White House West Wing room is now off limits to members of the press – unless they’ve made and been granted an appointment with an authorized White House staff member.
The change, effective immediately, is the latest step in the Trump Administration’s ongoing effort to protect sensitive information, the memo issued to top White House press officers and Assistant to the President Steven Cheung explains:
“This memorandum directs the prohibition of press passholders from accessing Room 140 in the West Wing, also known as ‘Upper Press,’ which is situated adjacent to the Oval Office, without an appointment. This policy will ensure adherence to best practices pertaining to access to sensitive material.
“As a result of recent structural changes to the National Security Council, the White House is now responsible for directing all communications, including on all national security matters. In this capacity, members of the White House Communications Staff are routinely engaging with sensitive material.”
“Members of the press may continue to freely engage with White House Press Aides in the Lower Press Area outside of the Briefing Room,” the memo notes.
Media outlets rebelled against the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect sensitive information at the Pentagon earlier this month, when the vast majority of reporters turned in their Pentagon press credentials in protest of new rules requiring them to be accompanied by escorts at times and forbidding them from soliciting confidential information from government employees.
