Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
Introduced
Summary
Restore and protect credentialed press access to the Pentagon. This bill would require the Secretary of Defense to restore inside-Pentagon access for credentialed journalists, undo recent restrictions, and prevent unilateral changes to access without consulting Congress.
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- Journalists: Credentialed reporters would be able to work inside the Pentagon again rather than being forced to use an outside annex. The bill targets rules that required military escorts and redesignated the press office as a secure space.
- Public and oversight: It would promote independent reporting to help the public and Congress understand defense policy and spending and to support accountability.
- Department of Defense: The Secretary would have a fixed timeframe to restore and preserve access and would need to consult Congress before making major access changes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Restore and Protect Pentagon Press Access
If you are an appropriately credentialed journalist, the bill would require the Secretary of Defense to restore, within 30 days of enactment, access to Pentagon areas you could reach on May 22, 2025. This includes the Correspondents' Corridor and other designated press working spaces. It would also restore unescorted entry where that access existed on May 22, 2025. The bill would require the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to perform security reviews for the Pentagon Facilities Alternative Credential using career officials, done timely and without political interference. Finally, the bill would stop the Defense Department from changing press work spaces, access areas, or credentials unless the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are consulted first.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov