Judge Orders Pentagon To Grant Media More Access

A federal judge ruled the Pentagon must restore full press access for credentialed journalists.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:11am

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A photorealistic painting of the Pentagon building at dusk, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the facade, conveying a sense of governmental authority and the ongoing struggle for transparency.As tensions between the Pentagon and the press escalate, a court ruling aims to restore journalists' access and protect their ability to freely cover military affairs.Washington Today

A federal judge in Washington ordered the Pentagon on Thursday to restore full press access for credentialed journalists, ruling that the Department of Defense failed to comply with an earlier court decision that found the DoD's 2025 press policy violated the First Amendment.

Why it matters

The dispute centers on a press access framework introduced last year that required journalists to sign restrictive agreements governing how they could obtain and use information, including unclassified material. More than 50 reporters declined to sign the pledge and lost their Pentagon credentials, raising concerns about press freedom and transparency around military operations.

The details

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman found that the Pentagon obstructed reporters and did not fully implement his March 20 ruling, which held that the DoD's 2025 press policy violated the First Amendment. The earlier order required officials to reinstate press credentials for reporters covering the Pentagon, including journalists from The New York Times and other outlets covering the U.S. military. Friedman said the Pentagon could not sidestep his ruling by issuing a revised policy that preserved core restrictions.

  • On March 20, 2026, Judge Friedman ruled the DoD's 2025 press policy violated the First Amendment.
  • On April 9, 2026, Judge Friedman ordered the Pentagon to restore full press access for credentialed journalists.

The players

Paul Friedman

A U.S. District Judge in Washington who ordered the Pentagon to restore full press access for credentialed journalists.

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Sean Parnell

The chief spokesperson for the Pentagon, who said the department disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal.

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What they’re saying

“The department simply cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action and expect the court to look the other way.”

— Paul Friedman, U.S. District Judge

“The Department disagrees with the Court's ruling and intends to appeal. The Department has at all times complied with the Court's Order — it reinstated the PFACs of every journalist identified in the Order and issued a materially revised policy that addressed every concern the Court identified in its March 20 opinion. The Department remains committed to press access at the Pentagon while fulfilling its statutory obligation to ensure the safe and secure operation of the Pentagon Reservation.”

— Sean Parnell, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson

What’s next

The Pentagon said it will appeal the judge's decision to restore full press access.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between the Pentagon's desire for tighter control over information and journalists' First Amendment rights to freely report on military affairs. The outcome of the appeal could have significant implications for press freedom and transparency around U.S. defense and national security matters.