A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s administration, allowing the Pentagon to continue enforcing its policy requiring journalists to be escorted while inside the Pentagon. The decision overturns a lower court ruling that had blocked the restrictions, marking a significant legal development in the ongoing dispute over press access.
The case was brought by The New York Times, which argued that the escort requirement and other access limitations violated press freedom and the First Amendment. However, the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found that the Pentagon was likely to succeed in arguing that the policy did not amount to unlawful retaliation against journalists. The Justice Department welcomed the ruling, while The New York Times said it looks forward to continuing the legal battle on the merits.
The controversy stems from Pentagon policies introduced under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, including rules allowing journalists to be deemed security risks and lose their press credentials if they sought unauthorized disclosures from military personnel. Press freedom advocates have criticized the measures as restrictive, while the Pentagon maintains they are necessary to protect national security.
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