Restoring Pentagon press access

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) restore to the press access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible to appropriately credentialed journalists on May 22, 2025, including the Correspondents' Corridor and other designated press working spaces; (2) restore to appropriately credentialed journalists unescorted access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible without an escort on May 22, 2025; (3) require the Secretary to ensure the integrity of the process to issue to reporters a Pentagon Facilities Alternative Credential, including by— (A) designating the Pentagon Force Protection Agency as responsible for the security review; (B) ensuring that the security review described in subparagraph (A) is conducted by career officials without unnecessary delays, political influence, or other influence by the Office of Public Affairs of the Department of Defense; and (C) requiring that the security review described in subparagraph (A) is timely, determinative, not subject to reversal by or at the direction of political appointees, and not subject to agreement with any policy that seeks to restrict First Amendment activities; and (4) prohibit any changes to press access at the Pentagon, including the designation of press work spaces, access areas, and press credentials, without prior consultation with the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.