US: Pentagon must restore journalists’ access, judge says

A federal court ruled on Thursday that the US Defense Department has not followed directives to grant journalists unrestricted access to the Pentagon. The decision comes after new protocols were implemented, requiring reporters to enter the building with an escort. Despite the order, the Pentagon has maintained a restriction that limits credentialed media to accessing the facility without prior approval.

“The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking ‘new’ action and expect the Court to look the other way,” wrote Judge Paul Friedman in his ruling.

Earlier in October 2025, the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a policy allowing the revocation of press badges if journalists solicited military personnel for classified or unclassified information. Only one of the 56 members of the Pentagon Press Association endorsed the revised guidelines, while others were forced to surrender their credentials and report from outside the building.

The New York Times spearheaded a legal challenge against the policy, which Judge Friedman addressed on March 20. He determined that the policy breached constitutional protections for free speech and due process, mandating the immediate resumption of full access for reporters. However, the Pentagon later issued an interim policy that still barred entry without escorts, as reported by The New York Times.

“The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking ‘new’ action…”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell asserted that the administration had followed the judge’s orders, reinstating journalists’ credentials and introducing a “materially revised policy that addressed every concern” raised by the court. Yet, Friedman countered that the current access level was insufficient compared to the previous arrangement. He described the Pentagon’s actions as a “blatant attempt to circumvent a lawful order of the Court.”

The judge emphasized that the need for transparency in military operations—particularly in Venezuela and Iran—makes public access to information more critical than ever. The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between security measures and the media’s role in reporting on government activities.