New Pentagon Press Policy

A federal judge ruled in favor of The New York Times in a lawsuit that challenged the Pentagon press policy that limited reporters’ access on Monday, March 23, 2026, according to a department official.

For decades, reporters have used “Correspondents’ Corridor” inside the Pentagon to cover the U.S. military. Department spokesman Sean Parnell announced it will be closed immediately, and journalists will have access to an “annex” outside the building that “will be available when ready.”

Pentagon Press Association Response

The Pentagon Press Association states the announcement “is a clear violation of the letter and spirit of last week’s ruling.”

“At such a critical time, we ask why the Pentagon is choosing to restrict vital press freedoms that help inform all Americans,” the association added.

The brief from Parnell states: “The 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 – while simultaneously ordering the Department to immediately reinstate press credentials for the New York Times.

“A new and improved press workspace will be established in an annex facility outside the Pentagon, but still on Pentagon grounds, and will be available when ready.

“Escorted Access Only. All journalist access to the Pentagon will require escort by authorized Department personnel. Credential holders will continue to have access to the Pentagon for scheduled press briefings, press conferences, and interviews arranged through public affairs offices.”

The New Pentagon Press Policy

The new Pentagon press policy is the latest in the dispute over media access to President Donald Trump and his administration, which continues to limit legacy media while boosting pro-Trump and conservative outlets.

In response to these limitations, The New York Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December. Court documents state that the new law credentialing policy violated constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

Rather than agree to the government-imposed restriction, dozens of journalists left the building in response to the announcement.

Federal Ruling

Last week, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ordered the Pentagon to reinstate press credentials to the seven reporters with The New York Times and denied the agency’s restrictions on the news media.

Friedman says the “undisputed evidence” proves the Pentagon press policy is designed to weed out “disfavored journalists” and replace them with those who are “on board and willing to serve” the government. This is a clear instance of illegal viewpoint discrimination.

Parnell says the Department of Defense disagrees with the federal ruling and is pursuing an appeal. He adds that security concerns prompted the Pentagon press policy restricting access to press conferences and interviews arranged through the public affairs team, and says journalists will have to be escorted.

Currently, the Pentagon press corps is mostly comprised of conservative outlets that agree with the policy. Journalists from news outlets that refused to consent to the new rules have continued to report on the U.S. military.

The Associated Press is awaiting a decision from a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals on a separate lawsuit against the Trump administration. The AP states that Trump’s White House team punished its team by reducing access to presidential events because the outlet did not follow his lead in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

Sources:

AP News: Pentagon will remove media offices after judge reinstates New York Times press credentials
U.S. Department of War: Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on Implementation of Revised Media In-Brief
The Hill: Pentagon closes office space for journalists after judge’s ruling on building press policy

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