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May 19, 2026 – USA –
The New York Times has filed a second lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense, challenging a Pentagon policy that requires journalists to be escorted while inside the building, arguing the restrictions violate constitutional protections for press freedom.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, targets the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, and adviser Timothy Parlatore. The newspaper claims the escort requirement imposes “utterly unreasonable” barriers on journalists attempting to report independently on military affairs and limits routine interactions with officials and sources inside the Pentagon.
According to court filings, the disputed policy was introduced in March after a federal judge struck down earlier Pentagon press restrictions that had been challenged by the newspaper in a previous lawsuit. That earlier case involved rules requiring reporters to agree not to solicit unauthorized information from Defense Department personnel. Judge Paul Friedman ruled that portions of those restrictions violated First Amendment and due process protections.
Following the ruling, the Pentagon implemented revised policies that included mandatory escorts for journalists on Pentagon grounds and the closure of designated press workspaces. The newspaper argues the new measures were designed to undermine the earlier court decision and restrict independent reporting.
A spokesperson for the Times said the escort policy represents “an unconstitutional attempt” to obstruct transparency and prevent journalists from reporting freely on military operations and government actions carried out in the public’s name.
The Defense Department defended the policy, saying the restrictions are necessary to protect classified and sensitive national security information. Sean Parnell accused the newspaper of seeking unrestricted access to secure areas and argued the escort requirement was lawful and narrowly tailored for security purposes.
The case reflects escalating tensions between the Pentagon and major U.S. news organizations over press access and transparency during the Trump administration. Several media outlets previously surrendered Pentagon press credentials rather than comply with earlier reporting rules introduced by Hegseth in 2025.
Reference –
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/new-york-times-pentagon-press-restrictions-lawsuit
