S. 5288 — Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act

This section states the purposes of the Act are to restore credentialed journalists' access to the Pentagon, permitted until 2025, and to remove restrictions imposed by Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth in the May 23, 2025, memorandum on physical control measures and the October 6, 2025, memorandum on media in-brief procedures.

This section states congressional findings on the historical access of credentialed journalists to the Pentagon since World War II, including dedicated workspace and proximity to officials, and on 2025 and 2026 Department of Defense policies that restrict journalists from soliciting unauthorized information, relocate them to an off-site annex, require military escorts inside the building, and reduce live press briefings.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that press access to the Pentagon is essential for public understanding of Department of Defense policies, programs, leadership effectiveness, personnel management, and spending; that such access has driven policy improvements and Armed Forces support; and that it enables congressional oversight through independent reporting beyond official briefings.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, within 30 days of enactment, to restore press access to Pentagon areas available to credentialed journalists on May 22, 2025, including the Correspondents' Corridor and designated workspaces, and to restore unescorted access to areas previously open without escort. It assigns the Pentagon Force Protection Agency responsibility for credential security reviews conducted by career officials without political influence or delays, and bars any changes to press access, workspaces, or credentials without prior consultation with the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.