SECRETARY
OF
DEFENSE
1000
DEFENSE
PENTAGON
WASHINGTON
,
DC
20301-1000
MAY
2 3
2025
MEMORANDUM FOR RESIDENT AND VISITING PRESS ASSIGNED TO THE
PENTAGON
SUBJECT: Updated Physical Control Measures for Press/Media Access Within the Pentagon
References: (a) DoDM 5200.
01
, "Volume 3, DoD Information Security Program:
Protection
of
Classified Information," February 24, 2012
(b) Office
of
Secretary
of
Defense, Chief
of
Staff Memorandum: "Efforts
to
Combat Unauthorized Disclosures," March
21
, 2025
The Department
of
Defense' s (DoD) highest priority is the defense
of
our Nation and our
national security. Per reference (a), the protection
of
classified national intelligence
information (CNSI) and sensitive, unclassified information, including information deemed
critical
to
operations security (OPSEC), remains an unwavering imperative for the Department.
Per reference (b ), the Chief
of
Staff to the Secretary
of
Defense recently directed an
investigation into unauthorized disclosures.
While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department
is
equally
obligated
to
protect CNSI and sensitive information - the unauthorized disclosure
of
which
could put the lives
of
U.S. Service members in danger. To attain professional balance between
press access and OPSEC, the following updated security measures for resident and visiting press
are needed to reduce the opportunities for in-person inadvertent and unauthorized disclosures.
a
r
-
----•
_.
Effective immediately, the Secretary
of
Defense directs the following control measures
for all resident and visiting press who have been issued a Pentagon Facilities Alternate
Credential (PF AC) for the Pentagon:
1.
Press/media are not authorized entry/access to the Secretary
of
Defense physical
office spaces located on the 3
rd
floor, ring E, between corridors 9 and 8 without an
official approval and escort from the Office
of
the Assistant
to
the Secretary
of
Defense for Public Affairs (OATSD(PA)).
2.
Press/media are not authorized entry/access
to
the Joint Staff physical office spaces
located on the 2nd floor between corridors 9 and 7, rings A through E, without
official approval from the Office
of
the Secretary
of
Defense for Public Affairs
(OSD(PA)) and escort
by
personnel from the Joint Staff Public Affairs Office.
3. Press/media are only authorized unescorted access in the Pentagon on rings A
through E on the 2nd floor
of
the Pentagon between the "Metro Entrance" at
corridors 1 and
10
and the "River Entrance" at corridors 8 and 9 via and to the
Pentagon Courtyard and Food Court (located between corridor 1 and
10
on the 1
st
Floor). The exception is noted in paragraph 2 (above).
4.
If
press require access to other areas/offices within the Pentagon for "in-person"
i
i\
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OSD00551 1-25/CMD007128-25
