U.S. Pentagon press‑escort rule halted by federal judge

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon’s requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official escort while reporting inside the building. The judge found the policy, implemented by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in March 2026, likely violates the First Amendment because it burdens the press’s ability to interview sources and develop relationships.

The ruling follows two earlier court decisions this year that struck down prior Pentagon press restrictions after lawsuits filed by The New York Times. The escort rule also closed the longtime “Correspondents’ Corridor” and moved the press workspace to an annex outside the main Pentagon structure.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the decision “strips away reasonable security measures” and could make classified information more vulnerable, and the department announced it will appeal the order. The case highlights a growing legal clash over media access to the U.S. defense establishment.