WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Friday announced a new rule restricting the ability of credentialed journalists to freely access the offices of press secretary Karoline Leavitt and other top communications officials in the West Wing, near the Oval Office.
A memorandum issued late Friday bans journalists from accessing Room 140, also known as “Upper Press,” without a prior appointment, citing the need to protect potentially sensitive material. It said the change would take effect immediately.
The White House move follows restrictions put in place earlier this month for credentialed reporters at the Department of Defense, which prompted dozens of journalists to vacate their office in the Pentagon and returned their credentials.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Diane Craft)
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