{"id":173056,"date":"2026-03-24T07:53:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T07:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/173056\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T07:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T07:53:12","slug":"pete-hegseth-sets-new-pentagon-press-restrictions-after-losing-to-new-york-times-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/173056\/","title":{"rendered":"Pete Hegseth Sets New Pentagon Press Restrictions After Losing to New York Times in Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Defense Department released new restrictions for journalists at the Pentagon on Monday, closing the existing media workspace and prohibiting reporters from entering the building without an escort.<\/p>\n

The restrictions come three days after a federal judge ruled that the Pentagon\u2019s press restrictions enacted last October were unconstitutional, violating the First and Fifth Amendments. Dozens of news outlets surrendered their press passes last fall rather than complying with the new policy, including the New York Times, which sued the Defense Department in December.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court vacated the policy and ordered the Pentagon to restore access to Times reporters. The reporters were set to return to the media workspace on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new policy does not comply with the judge\u2019s order,\u201d a New York Times spokesman told TheWrap. \u201cIt continues to impose unconstitutional restrictions on the press. We will be going back to court.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sean Parnell, the Pentagon\u2019s chief spokesman, wrote<\/a> in a Monday memo that the Pentagon will close the Correspondents\u2019 Corridor, the workspace long used by the press corps, and require all journalists seeking physical access to the military building to have an escort.<\/p>\n

Parnell said there will be a \u201cnew and improved press workspace\u201d in an annex outside the building but on Pentagon grounds. He offered no timetable, saying it \u201cwill be available when ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dan Lamothe, who covers the Pentagon for the Washington Post, noted the lack of \u201cclarity on when [the] different space will open\u201d and questioned \u201chow the Pentagon will reassign the rooms and booths where journalists worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

This decision:<\/p>\n

1) Immediately closes existing media space in the Pentagon for new and old press corps members alike<\/p>\n

2) Includes no clarity on when different space will open<\/p>\n

3) Immediately raises questions how the Pentagon will reassign the rooms and booths where journalists\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/IG29V8B1Bd<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\u2014 Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pentagon framed the policy announced Monday as necessary to uphold security, which was also the rationale for changes last fall. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe court removed every provision that allowed the Department to screen press credential holders for security risks and every provision that allowed the Department to deny, revoke, or suspend a press credential based on security considerations \u2014 while simultaneously ordering the Department to immediately reinstate press credentials for the New York Times,\u201d Parnell wrote. <\/p>\n

Defense One\u2019s Meghann Myers noted <\/a>on X that \u201creporters always passed background checks, like all PFAC holders, to get their badges.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing this administration did is attempt to punish reporters who sought information beyond public affairs offices,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n

News outlets objected to the October restrictions suggesting that reporters asking questions of unauthorized officials could be considered soliciting them to break the law.<\/p>\n

Under that Pentagon policy, Friedman wrote Friday, \u201cessential journalistic practices that the plaintiffs and others engage in every day \u2014 such as asking questions of Department employees \u2014 could trigger a determination by the Department that a journalist poses a security or safety risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Defense Department has said that it plans to appeal the judge\u2019s Friday ruling.<\/p>\n

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The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the military, said<\/a> that \u201cthe Pentagon\u2019s announcement today is a clear violation of the letter and spirit of last week\u2019s ruling\u201d and that it \u201cis consulting with our legal counsel and will advise members once this process is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPress freedom is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and an informed public
is vital to a democracy,\u201d the PPA continued. \u201cJudge Paul Friedman specifically ruled that the department was to restore access \u2018especially in light of the country\u2019s recent incursion into Venezuela and its ongoing war with Iran.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt such a critical time, we ask why the Pentagon is choosing to restrict vital
press freedoms that help inform all Americans,\u201d the group added.<\/p>\n

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While Times journalists were set to return to the Pentagon Monday, it has been unclear whether reporters from the dozens of outlets that also rejected the Pentagon\u2019s policy \u2014 including CNN, Fox News and the Washington Post \u2014 would regain access following the ruling in the Times\u2019 suit.<\/p>\n

Several right-wing outlets and influencers agreed to the Pentagon policy last fall and were provided credentials along with workspaces.<\/p>\n

Pentagon reporters have continued aggressively covering the military from outside the building, though some have been permitted inside in recent weeks for for Iran-focused news conferences. Hegseth has taken the opportunity in such news conferences to bash the media and accuse them of rooting against the president, part of the administration broader wartime assault on the press. <\/p>\n

Still, news organizations sought to regain space in the Pentagon, as had been customary for decades. Journalists find it useful to work out of the Pentagon to get timely information and have the opportunity to question officials.<\/p>\n

On Monday, both the Associated Press and Reuters told TheWrap they were seeking reinstatement, and presumably others were hoping to regain their previous access. But now the Pentagon is upending any such expectations with new limits for the press corps. <\/p>\n

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