The Pentagon reclassifies its press office as a restricted security facility

In June 2026, the Pentagon reclassified its press office as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, commonly known as a SCIF, introducing additional restrictions on journalists' access to the area. According to the document, the reclassification effectively prevented reporters from entering the designated space without appropriate authorization. Access to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and the Office of the Press Secretary was subsequently restricted to appointments. These measures followed the department's May 2026 announcement requiring journalists to be escorted through the Pentagon and prohibiting media organizations from maintaining permanent offices within the building. The reclassification marked a further change in the administrative and security arrangements governing interactions between defense officials and the news media, reflecting an evolving institutional approach to information access within the military headquarters.