Pentagon Obtains Interim Court Order to Escort Journalists Inside Defense Department

A U.S. appellate court lifted a lower‑court injunction, permitting the Pentagon to enforce a rule that reporters, including those from The New York Times, must be accompanied by a Pentagon employee while inside the Defense Department building. The decision is temporary; the case will continue to be adjudicated.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the escort requirement is a reasonable security measure to protect classified information, noting a decline in unauthorized disclosures since the rule’s introduction. The New York Times expressed disappointment but welcomed the court’s decision to keep the case on an accelerated track. The ruling marks a short‑term win for the Pentagon in the broader dispute over press access to government facilities.