The White House on Friday abruptly barred credentialed reporters from freely entering the West Wing offices of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and other senior communications officials, requiring appointments instead of allowing spontaneous access to the area known as "Upper Press," located steps from the Oval Office.
The new rule, announced in a memo co-signed by Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung, cites national security risks, including past incidents of reporters photographing sensitive materials and secretly recording offices.
The White House Correspondents' Association immediately condemned the move, calling it an attack on transparency. WHCA President Weijia Jiang said the policy "unequivocally opposes any effort to limit journalists" from areas long used for newsgathering.
Reporters retain open access to lower-level press offices near the briefing room, but the upper floor—historically a hub for impromptu questioning—will now be appointment-only.
The restriction follows other recent media access limits, including Pentagon rules requiring approval for unclassified information, prompting over 50 journalists to surrender badges.
Critics see the policy as part of a broader Trump administration effort to control press interactions, while supporters argue it protects sensitive operations. No legal challenges have been filed as of Saturday.