Federal judge appears skeptical of Pentagon’s restrictions on press access
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge, Paul Friedman, expressed skepticism about the Pentagon's new press access restrictions that require journalists to report only government-authorized information or risk losing their Pentagon press badges, emphasizing that asking questions is protected under the First Amendment.
- The policy, implemented in mid-2025, prohibits journalists from publishing unauthorized information, including declassified or off-the-record content, and has been criticized by media outlets like The New York Times as an attempt to suppress critical reporting.
- The Pentagon defends the policy as a necessary measure to protect national security while maintaining some press access, arguing that access is a privilege, not a right, but Judge Friedman questioned this rationale, highlighting the importance of diverse public information during wartime.
- Several major broadcasters refused to
