A federal judge has ruled that the Pentagon violated a court order by imposing new restrictions on press access, despite an earlier ruling requiring the department to ease restrictions. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman found that the Pentagon's revised policy, which mandated escorts for all reporters within the building, was an unlawful attempt to circumvent his March 20, 2026, order. The ruling sided with The New York Times and other news organizations that challenged the restrictions, which included revoking press badges for journalists deemed security risks if they solicited unauthorized disclosures from military personnel.
Friedman's March ruling had struck down some of the Pentagon's strict controls, including provisions that allowed the department to bar reporters for soliciting classified or sensitive information. The judge also clarified that his decision applied broadly to all regulated parties, not just the seven Times reporters whose credentials were reinstated. The Pentagon's new policy, issued in April 2026, required all reporters to be accompanied by government escorts and removed media offices from the building.
The judge's latest order requires a Pentagon official to submit a sworn declaration by April 16, 2026, describing the steps taken to comply with the court's injunction. The Pentagon has not commented on the pending litigation, while representatives for The New York Times, the Justice Department, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Background on the dispute
The Pentagon's restrictions, implemented under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in October 2025, were challenged by multiple news organizations, including The New York Times, which argued that the policies violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The initial court order in March 2026 required the Pentagon to reinstate press credentials for the affected reporters and clarified that access to the Pentagon is a right, not a privilege. However, some restrictions on where reporters can go without an escort remain in place.
The Pentagon's revised policy, which the judge found unlawful, was seen as an attempt to reinstate the original restrictions under a new framework. Friedman emphasized that the department cannot evade court orders by repackaging unlawful policies as new actions. The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between the Pentagon and media organizations over press access and the balance between national security and transparency.