Trump Admin Expands Media Evictions at Pentagon to Favor Allies

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Trump Admin Expands Media Evictions at Pentagon to Favor Allies \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration has increased the number of media outlets being removed from their Pentagon offices, replacing them with more sympathetic organizations. Newsrooms like CNN and The Washington Post are being pushed out in favor of Newsmax and The Washington Examiner. The Pentagon Press Association has condemned the move as unreasonable, while the administration argues it promotes fairness in media access.

Quick Looks

Trump administration escalates Pentagon media evictions, doubling the number of outlets removed.
CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill, and War Zone lose space, replaced by conservative outlets.
The Pentagon Press Association criticizes the move as hostile and unnecessary.
The administration defends the decision as a way to ensure fairer media access.
Critics argue that it targets newsrooms critical of Trump’s administration.
Similar changes affected NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico last week.
Media outlets claim the new policy hampers their ability to report on defense matters.

Deep Look

The Trump administration has escalated its effort to reshape media access at the Pentagon, doubling the number of mainstream news organizations being evicted from their office spaces within the building. The move, widely criticized as an attempt to sideline critical coverage, replaces longstanding media outlets with more conservative-leaning publications.

This development follows a similar announcement made the previous week, in which NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, and Politico were removed from their Pentagon workspaces. Now, additional outlets, including CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill, and War Zone, are being pushed out in favor of Newsmax, The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, and The Free Press.

The decision was outlined in a memo from John Ullyot, acting assistant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and has been met with strong resistance from the Pentagon Press Association. The association has condemned the move as both unreasonable and unnecessary, emphasizing that it makes it harder for journalists to effectively report on military affairs.

A Major Shift in Media Presence at the Pentagon

In his memo, Ullyot justified the decision as part of an effort to ensure more equal media access to the Pentagon’s inner workings.

“By turning over the office space loaned to you by the secretary, you will ensure that other outlets will enjoy the same opportunity to cover our nation’s finest up close from office spaces inside the walls of the Pentagon this year and each year going forward,” he wrote.

The administration insists that affected outlets are not being banned from covering the Department of Defense, only required to operate without dedicated office space. However, critics argue that the policy creates unnecessary obstacles for established journalists, making it more difficult to do their jobs effectively.

Workspace within government institutions like the Pentagon is highly valuable for journalists, as it provides direct access to key officials, stable internet connections, and the infrastructure necessary for rapid, real-time reporting. Television networks, in particular, rely on these spaces for immediate live broadcasts.

The Pentagon Press Association has strongly opposed the move, noting that it breaks with longstanding tradition and appears to target specific outlets that have been critical of the Trump administration.

Press Association Calls Move ‘Unreasonable’

The Pentagon Press Association released a statement expressing “shock and deep disappointment” over the decision, which they say disregards good-faith efforts to find a compromise.

“Instead of reconsidering its approach after good faith outreach this week from more than 20 news organizations, the Defense Department appears to be doubling down on an unreasonable policy toward news outlets that have covered the U.S. military for decades,” the statement read.

The association also challenged the administration’s claim that space limitations necessitated the evictions. They asserted that their offer to find room for all outlets—including both those being removed and those being added—was ignored.

Furthermore, they pointed out that some of the newly admitted conservative-leaning outlets had not even requested Pentagon workspace, raising questions about whether the move was truly about increasing access or merely reshaping media coverage in the administration’s favor.

Trump’s Ongoing Feud with the Media

The move comes amid ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and mainstream news organizations, many of which he has frequently criticized as biased or dishonest.

Since taking office, Trump has had a particularly contentious relationship with outlets like CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Politico. These publications have often reported critically on his administration, leading to accusations from Trump and his allies that they are unfairly targeting him.

The Pentagon’s recent changes appear to align with broader efforts by the Trump administration to sideline these organizations while elevating more sympathetic media voices.

Earlier in the week, the White House announced it would stop paying for government subscriptions to newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times, further restricting federal agency access to their reporting.

Trump has also frequently used social media to attack mainstream media organizations, branding them “fake news” and claiming they spread misinformation. His administration has been accused of limiting press access in various ways, including barring certain reporters from press briefings and favoring conservative outlets for interviews.

Media Landscape Shift: Conservative Outlets Gain Influence

The addition of conservative-leaning media organizations to Pentagon workspaces aligns with a broader shift in the news landscape under Trump. Outlets such as Newsmax, The Daily Caller, and The Washington Examiner have been more favorable in their coverage of the administration, frequently echoing its narratives on issues ranging from national security to foreign policy.

Newsmax, in particular, has gained influence in recent years, positioning itself as an alternative to mainstream networks like CNN and MSNBC. The outlet has frequently defended Trump against criticism and provided a platform for his administration’s talking points.

Similarly, The Daily Caller—founded by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson—has a reputation for its right-leaning perspective and often challenges reporting from more traditional media organizations.

The inclusion of these outlets in the Pentagon’s workspace rotation raises concerns about the increasing polarization of media access, with critics arguing that the administration is actively shaping which voices get priority in covering defense-related news.

Implications for Press Freedom

The Pentagon’s media shake-up raises broader concerns about press freedom and government transparency. While the administration has framed the decision as a way to increase diversity in media access, journalists and press advocates worry that it is part of a larger effort to control the narrative surrounding U.S. military and defense policies.

Restricting access to certain news organizations could set a precedent for future administrations to reshape press access based on political considerations rather than journalistic merit. Critics warn that such moves could erode the independence of the press and make it harder for the public to receive unbiased information about government operations.

CNN, one of the affected outlets, has vowed to continue reporting on the Department of Defense and the Trump administration despite the setback.

“Our mission to report on the Department of Defense, U.S. military, and Trump administration will continue regardless of office arrangements,” CNN said in a statement. “We will not be deflected from our duty to hold all three fairly and fully to account.”

As the Trump administration nears the end of its term, its handling of press relations remains a major point of contention, with lasting implications for how future administrations interact with the media.