A federal judge has dealt another legal setback to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, striking down a Pentagon effort to tighten control over the press corps. The ruling halts a revised policy that would have restricted how credentialed reporters operate within the Pentagon. This makes it the second time the court has intervened in the department’s media crackdown.
Judge dismisses Pete Hegseth’s request to restrict reporters at Pentagon
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman rejected the Pentagon’s latest attempt to impose new restrictions on journalists, declaring the proposed policy effectively unconstitutional. The ruling specifically addressed changes the Defense Department made to a provision, which barred journalists from seeking confidential information from government sources. Judge Friedman also pointed out that the Pentagon had “failed” to restore press passes for several New York Times reporters.
This decision follows an earlier ruling last month in which Judge Friedman tossed major portions of a previous press policy in a case brought by The Times. The court has now twice found that the Defense Department’s efforts to limit journalistic activity cross constitutional boundaries.
Since assuming his role, Pete Hegseth has pursued an adversarial relationship with the media. His department has taken multiple steps to curtail access for reporters within the military complex. These actions have included shuttering long-used on-site workspaces for credentialed journalists. They also reduced the areas where reporters can move freely without an official escort.
The New York Times had argued that the Pentagon was attempting an “end run” around the court’s original ruling by slightly modifying the language of its policy rather than fully complying. A spokesperson for The Times stated the ruling “sends a clear message to the Pentagon” regarding the necessity of adhering to the judge’s order.
The ongoing dispute traces back to October, when the Pentagon first overhauled its rules for covering the military. That initial change prompted a walkout by journalists from several traditional news outlets who declined to sign the new policy.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
