NSC Orders Appointment-Only Access to Upper Press

A National Security Council memorandum effective immediately requires credentialed journalists to make appointments before entering Room 140 — the West Wing “Upper Press” hallway housing Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, deputy Steven Cheung and other senior communications staff — saying structural NSC changes mean communications officials now routinely handle sensitive material. The restriction follows recent Pentagon reporting limits that prompted dozens of reporters to vacate offices and return credentials and continues a broader tightening of access after the administration removed Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg from the permanent White House pool and asserted control over pool arrangements. White House officials said the step protects sensitive information and preserves NSC–communications coordination, while news organizations warned it will curb reporters’ ability to quickly consult senior aides and further constrain coverage; the White House Correspondents’ Association did not immediately respond. Reporters will still have regular access to a separate office adjacent to the briefing room for lower-level communications staff, but access to senior staff in Room 140 is now appointment-only.