By Cubaperiodistas editorial team on November 5, 2025
In October, dozens of journalists walked out of the Pentagon in protest against harassment. foto RT.
In what is considered another step in the US government’s escalation against the media, members of the White House press team now have restricted access to the press secretary’s office, the latest in a series of measures by Donald Trump’s administration to limit access to information.
A note on the website https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/, based on reports from the multi-channel CNN, explains that the new rule states that journalists cannot access “without an appointment” the office area known as “Upper Press,” where White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt works.
The area had been accessible to White House correspondents for decades, allowing for the free flow of information between the president and the public.
A government memo states that the policy “… will ensure compliance with best practices regarding access to sensitive material”; but, on the other hand, the White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents hundreds of accredited journalists, stated that it “unequivocally opposes any attempt” to limit journalists’ access to areas that have long been accessible for newsgathering, “including the press secretary’s office.”
The Association criticized that “the new restrictions hinder the press’s ability to question officials, ensure transparency, and hold the government accountable, to the detriment of the American public.”
As Jeff Zeleny of CNN explained, reporters often “wait in the hallway” outside the Press Secretary’s office and request information from communications advisors. “When there is breaking news, this happens frequently,” he added.
On the contrary, now, according to the White House, “reporters will only have access to a small group of offices of advisors, assistants, and junior press secretaries.” The office of White House Communications Director Steven Cheung is also restricted due to this change.
Cheung, who often expresses hostility toward reporters on social media, said that “some reporters have been caught” taking photos of confidential information and “spying on private closed-door meetings,” a statement that surprised White House press corps leaders, who were unaware that their colleagues had been “caught.”
There are precedents for this restriction: at the beginning of Bill Clinton’s presidency, his advisers attempted to prevent journalists from accessing the main press area, which caused outrage. Ultimately, the ban was revoked.
Even during Trump’s first term, journalists had normal access to the offices, but now he and his advisers are taking various measures to hinder news coverage and circumvent the traditional media.
Last winter, the administration prevented the AP from attending some events at the White House, leading to a lawsuit for violation of the First Amendment that is still pending in court.
In addition, the government has stopped publishing transcripts of Trump’s statements, has taken control of daily press pool assignments, and has given preferential treatment to flattering commentators in question-and-answer sessions with the president.
Some cabinet secretaries are following Trump’s example. For example, in October, Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War, implemented severe restrictions on press accreditation at the Pentagon, leading virtually all major media outlets to reject the rules and give up access to the military command complex.
Source: Cubaperiodistas, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English