White House bars Room 140 access for reporters without appointment

The White House on Friday barred credentialed reporters from entering a West Wing area known as Room 140 or Upper Press without a prior appointment, restricting access to the offices of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and senior communications staff located near the Oval Office. The change was announced in a memorandum that cited recent structural changes to the National Security Council and said White House communications staff now routinely handle sensitive material.

The memo said the restriction took effect immediately and that members of the press may continue to use the lower press area outside the briefing room to engage with press aides. Previously, credentialed reporters could move from the briefing room into the Upper Press hallway on short notice to seek comments from the press secretary, her deputy and other senior communications officials.

White House communications officials framed the move as a security and coordination measure. In a public post, Communications Director Steven Cheung said some reporters had been caught secretly recording video and audio of offices and photographing sensitive information, and alleged instances of reporters entering restricted...