New York Times files lawsuit against Pentagon over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new press guidelines

NEW YORK On Thursday, The New York Times initiated legal action against the Pentagon, seeking to overturn recently implemented rules by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that have excluded most major media organizations from the building. The newspaper contends that the regulations infringe on constitutional protections of free speech and due process, as they grant Hegseth unilateral authority to ban reporters.

Mainstream outlets, including The Times, opted to leave the Pentagon rather than comply with the new requirements to obtain press credentials. In contrast, the Pentagon press room has since been primarily populated by conservative media outlets that accepted the rules, participating in a briefing led by Hegseths press secretary.

These policies appear to be an effort to control reporting that the administration disapproves of, said Charles Stadtlander, a spokesperson for The Times. The lawsuit has been filed with the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

Reporting Continues Despite Restricted Access

Even without credentials, news organizations have continued to cover Pentagon-related developments from outside the building. In the past week, they reported on issues concerning Hegseths involvement in military actions against vessels suspected of drug smuggling, including incidents where follow-up strikes occurred after survivors were located. The Times emphasizes that restricted access hampers its reporters ability to perform their duties effectively.

The newspapers court filings argue that the policy, which allows Hegseth to remove reporters for stories he disapproves ofeven if the information is not classifiedcreates a chilling effect on journalism. Legal experts also worry that similar restrictions could spread to other federal agencies.

Pentagon Defends New Rules

The Pentagon maintains that the rules are common sense measures intended to safeguard military personnel and operations. During a briefing, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson remarked that the departure of legacy media outlets was not problematic. The American public doesnt trust these propagandists because they stopped telling the truth, Wilson said, adding that the Pentagon would not seek to reinstate them.

Major news organizations such as The Associated Press, Washington Post, and CNN requested access to Wilsons briefing but were denied, being told it was for credentialed media only. The Times points to Wilsons propagandists comment as evidence of viewpoint discrimination, a claim similar to the APs ongoing lawsuit aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from restricting access to certain White House events.

Legal Arguments and Next Steps

The Times contends that its viewpoint discrimination claim is particularly strong, as its reporters currently lack Pentagon credentials, unlike AP journalists who retain some White House access. The lawsuit names the Department of Defense, Secretary Hegseth, and chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell as defendants, and is filed on behalf of the newspaper and reporter Julian E. Barnes. Although proceeding independently to expedite the case, The Times expressed openness to support from other news organizations.

Author: Sophia Brooks