U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C., sided with the newspaper and ruled that the Pentagon policy illegally restricts the press credentials of reporters who walked out<\/a> of the building rather than agree to the new rules.<\/p>\n The Times sued the Pentagon<\/a> and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists\u2019 constitutional rights to free speech and due process.<\/p>\n The current Pentagon press corps is comprised mostly of conservative outlets that agreed to the policy. Reporters from outlets that refused to consent to the new rules, including from The Associated Press, have continued reporting<\/a> on the military.<\/p>\n Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said the policy \u201cfails to provide fair notice of what routine, lawful journalistic practices will result in the denial, suspension, or revocation\u201d of Pentagon press credentials. He ruled that it violates the First and Fifth amendment rights to free speech and due process.<\/p>\n \u201cIn sum, the Policy on its face makes any newsgathering and reporting not blessed by the Department a potential basis for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a journalist\u2019s (credential),\u201d he wrote. \u201cIt provides no way for journalists to know how they may do their jobs without losing their credentials.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.<\/p>\n It has argued that the policy imposes \u201ccommon sense\u201d rules that protect the military from the disclosure of national security information.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal of that process is to prevent those who pose a security risk from having broad access to American military headquarters,\u201d government attorneys wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n Times attorneys claim the policy is designed to silence unfavorable press coverage of President Donald Trump\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pentagon_Press_Policy_90488.jpg\")
FILE \u2013 The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen in this aerial view in Washington, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo\/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)<\/p>\n