Overview
- U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled key parts of the October 2025 policy unconstitutional under the First and Fifth Amendments, calling it viewpoint discrimination and impermissibly vague.
- The court ordered the immediate reinstatement of credentials for seven New York Times reporters and vacated the challenged provisions for all outlets, enabling broader recredentialing.
- The policy, instituted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, required reporters to pledge not to solicit or use information not officially approved, including some unclassified material, with violations labeled a “security risk.”
- Friedman declined to pause his order and cited the need for robust reporting given U.S. operations in Venezuela and the war with Iran, emphasizing the public’s right to diverse information sources.
- The Pentagon said it disagrees with the ruling and is pursuing an immediate appeal, while earlier, unchallenged rules such as escort-only movement within parts of the building remain in effect.