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White House imposed yet another restriction on the media, barring reporters from accessing part of the press office without an appointment. US President Donald Trump's administration announced the move on Friday, insisting that the measures were taken to protect “sensitive material”.
In a memorandum released on Friday, addressed to the White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the National Security Council (NSC) said journalists were “no longer permitted” to visit a section where Leavitt’s office is located, “without prior approval in the form of an appointment”.
In the memo, the National Security Council said that the change was made because structural changes to the NSC meant White House communications officials are now “routinely engaging with sensitive material”.
“In order to protect such material, and maintain coordination between National Security Council Staff and White House Communications Staff, members of the press are no longer permitted to access Room 140 without prior approval in the form of an appointment with an authorised White House Staff Member,” the memo said.
White House strengthens its guardrails
The White House’s latest move follows restrictions that were announced earlier this month. Reporters at the Department of Defence faced a similar kind of restriction, prompting dozens of journalists to vacate their offices in the Pentagon and return their credentials.
In the past, credentialed White House journalists could access Room 140, which is a short hallway from the Oval Office known as “Upper Press”. The press was allowed to access the region on short notice to speak with Leavitt, her deputy Cheung and other senior officials.
The White House Correspondents Association, which represents journalists covering the White House, has yet to comment on the matter. Months before the memo, the Trump administration removed Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News from the permanent “pool” of reporters covering the president months ago.
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