Judge Finds Pentagon in Violation of Court Order on Press Access

Federal Judge Reinstates Reporters’ Credentials

Washington—U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled Thursday that the Department of Defense remains in contempt of his March 20 order requiring the Pentagon to restore access for credentialed journalists. The order, won by The New York Times and other news outlets, struck down a restrictive policy that let officials revoke press passes and forced reporters onto escorted tours.

Instead of compliance, the Pentagon issued an “interim” policy that expelled reporters from the building unless they were escorted, and it closed the existing “correspondents’ corridor.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s team shifted journalists to a temporary library workspace while a new press area is built on the Pentagon grounds.

Judge Friedman found the revised rules a clear evasion of the court’s directive, blocked the policy, and ordered the immediate reinstatement of credentials for the seven Times reporters named in the suit. The ruling underscores the administration’s ongoing clash with First‑Amendment protections and reinforces courts’ authority to enforce press‑freedom judgments.