Reporters at the U.S. Capitol were shocked to learn on Tuesday that they’re not allowed to film interviews with senators in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, as they have done for years. Hallway interviews are allowed only if reporters get permission—not only from the senator, but from the Senate Rules Committee as well.

CONDITIONS for any interview: Previously granted permission from senator AND Rules Committee of Senate — Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017

I was just told I cannot stand outside of the Budget Committee hearing room to interview lawmakers. https://t.co/gBdkztGLfO — Kevin Cirilli (@kevcirilli) June 13, 2017

A senior Democratic aide told Roll Call’s Bridget Bowman that the decision was made unilaterally by Senate Rules Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican from Alabama. Shelby issued a statement saying the committee “has made no changes to the existing rules” but rather is enforcing “compliance with existing rules.” (The rules posted on the Senate Radio & Television Correspondents Gallery website confirm as much.)



Senate Rules Committee puts out statement insisting there are no changes to existing rules pic.twitter.com/Nq3xpij2GG — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 13, 2017

The rules may not be new, but it the precedent certainly is. And this move comes just as Senate Republicans are preparing to pass a bill that repeals Obamacare and replaces it with—well, we don’t know because the legislation is currently being crafted in secret. A senior GOP aide told Axios that’s because the new health care bill is in a “premature” stage; Republicans aren’t sure yet what the final bill will look like, either.

Republicans don't want to be caught on camera running away from questions about their secret bill to take health insurance from millions. https://t.co/jOUbgQiucL — Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) June 13, 2017

Has anyone seen the secret Senate rule preventing reporters from asking about the secret health bill? — Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) June 13, 2017

You know it's a good health bill when one GOP candidate attacks a reporter for asking about it + the Senate tries to shut down press access. — Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) June 13, 2017

As The Washington Post recently reported, the Capitol has been extremely overcrowded in recent weeks, as reporters swarm lawmakers with questions about James Comey, Jeff Sessions, Obamacare, and every other piece of Trump-era news drama. “We are concerned someone may get hurt,” officials who oversee the Senate press gallery wrote to news organizations last month. Journalists believe that “someone” may be a lawmaker. “We are one tripped senator away from losing our access,” one reporter told the Post. But if we’re going by precedent, it’s reporters who are in the most physical danger when pressing lawmakers in person.

Update: The Senate Rules Committee appears to have backed down.