Following a federal court decision that favored The New York Times, the Defense Department announced Monday it will provide updated press passes to journalists while relocating media offices away from the Pentagon’s main structure.
Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell stated the military disagrees with the court’s decision and plans to file an appeal. Federal Judge Paul Friedman in Washington D.C. ruled last week in favor of the Times, determining that the Pentagon’s revised credentialing requirements unlawfully limited access for reporters who refused to accept the updated regulations.
According to Parnell, journalists will operate from a separate facility located on Pentagon property but positioned outside the primary building. The spokesman indicated the alternative workspace “will be available when ready” without providing a specific timeline for completion.
Media representatives will maintain access to Pentagon briefings and scheduled interviews coordinated by the department’s communications staff, though they must be accompanied by escorts, Parnell posted on X.
The Times filed legal action against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, arguing the credentialing requirements violated journalists’ First Amendment free speech protections and constitutional due process rights.
The Pentagon’s current press pool consists primarily of conservative media organizations that accepted the policy changes. News outlets that rejected the updated requirements, including The Associated Press, have maintained their military coverage from outside the building.
Separately, The AP awaits a ruling from a three-judge federal appeals court panel regarding its own legal challenge against President Donald Trump’s administration. The news organization alleges the White House reduced its access to presidential activities as retaliation for not adopting Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.
