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November 01, 2025 – USA –
The White House Correspondents’ Association and other press‐freedom groups are raising serious concerns after the White House issued a memo restricting accredited journalists from freely entering Room 140 (the “Upper Press” area) in the West Wing without a scheduled appointment. The space houses senior communications officials—including Karoline Leavitt, press secretary—and the new policy, attributed to structural changes in the National Security Council (NSC), holds that the communications staff now routinely handles sensitive material.
The NSC memo states the change is needed “to protect such material, and maintain coordination between NSC Staff and White House Communications Staff,” and formalizes that only pre-scheduled media visits will be allowed. Previously, credentialled journalists could enter Room 140 on short notice and engage with senior officials; that access has now been curtailed.
Critics argue this decision is part of a wider pattern under the Donald Trump administration, tightening control over media access. They note prior restrictions at the Department of Defense, where dozens of press outlets relinquished credentials rather than accept new conditions, and earlier decisions limiting which news organizations attend presidential events.
The White House defends the move, with Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung saying reporters had engaged in misconduct—such as unauthorized recordings and wandering into restricted areas—which, they argue, necessitated the tighter controls. Meanwhile, the Correspondents’ Association issued a statement warning that the restrictions will hamper journalists’ ability to engage with officials, jeopardizing government transparency and accountability.
For press-freedom advocates and media covering government affairs, the move signals a notable shift in access norms. While the White House maintains that lower-level spokespeople remain accessible, the restriction on senior communications spaces marks a significant contraction of traditional press access channels.
Reference –
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/01/business/trump-white-house-press-limits
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/31/white-house-media-access-00632412
