A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Pentagon’s new press policy restricting press credential of reporters is unconstitutional.
In October, Pentagon reporters turned in their badges after they refused to sign Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s new security rule.
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that reporters agree by 5 p.m. Tuesday to a new policy, under which they would need to pledge to not obtain or use any unauthorized material, even if the information is unclassified — or hand over their press badges in the next 24 hours,” The Hill previously reported.
By that afternoon, Pentagon reporters turned in their badges.
The reporters turned in their badges and left the building.
The Pentagon Press Association previously released a statement blasting Hegseth.
“Today, the Defense Department confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America. It did this because reporters would not sign onto a new media policy over its implicit threat of criminalizing national security reporting and exposing those who sign it to potential prosecution,” the PPA said.
“The Pentagon Press Association’s members are still committed to reporting on the US military. But make no mistake, today, Oct. 15, 2025 is a dark day for press freedom that raises concerns about a weakening US commitment to transparency in governance, to public accountability at the Pentagon and to free speech for all,” the statement said.
The Pentagon press pool now includes conservative outlets, including The Gateway Pundit.
The New York Times filed a lawsuit to stop the Pentagon from enforcing its new policy.
On Friday, US District Judge Paul Friedman, a Clinton appointee, blocked the Pentagon from enforcing its new policy and said it violated the First Amendment.
Hellbound and Down 