A US judge ruled on Thursday that the Pentagon is disregarding a court order requiring it to restore access to credible journalists.
US District Judge Paul Friedman said the Pentagon should comply with his order and restore journalists’ access to the US Defense Department.
Why were Pentagon journalists barred from entry?
In October 2025, the Pentagon under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that journalists could be considered a security risk and thus have their press badges revoked if they solicit unauthorized military personnel to disclose classified and in some cases unclassified information.
Only one of the Pentagon Press Association’s 56 news outlets agreed to sign acknowledgment of the new policy, with the rest required to surrender their press passes and report on the Pentagon from outside the facility.
the new York Times A lawsuit challenging the new policy led, and Friedman ruled in favor of the journalists on March 20, saying the policy violated protections for newsgathering and due process in the U.S. Constitution.
He demanded immediate restoration of journalists’ access.
The Pentagon then issued a new “interim” policy that prevents journalists with press passes from entering the building without an escort. the new York Times. It also regulates when journalists can offer anonymity to a source, as well as preserving other rules that were struck down by the court.
What did the judge say about the Pentagon’s policies?
The Pentagon had denied violating Friedman’s prior order in a March court filing, saying it was “being careful to address all of the legal flaws that the court considered in the previous policy.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the administration would appeal Friedman’s March 20 decision.
Parnell said in a social media post that the department has complied with the judge’s orders, restored the journalists’ credentials and issued “a materially revised policy that addresses every concern” identified by the judge.
But on Thursday, Friedman said the access the Pentagon has provided permit holders is “nothing even close to the broader access” they previously enjoyed.
“The Department cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of ‘new’ action and expect the Court to look the other way,” Friedman wrote in his decision. The judge called the Pentagon’s actions a “blatant attempt to circumvent a lawful order of the court.”
He also argued that the need for public access to information about government activities has become greater due to US military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico