The Trump administration’s decision to restrict the movement of Pentagon reporters, which prompted most news organizations to evacuate the Pentagon, was blocked by a federal judge in Washington on Friday.The court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by The New York Times that accused the government of violating free speech.Last fall, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked news organizations to agree to new restrictions on their reporting. The Pentagon’s policy puts journalists at risk of being labeled a “security risk,” which could result in the revocation of their credentials if they are found to have solicited material that could be considered classified or controlled unclassified information (a ubiquitous label on Defense Department documents).Justice Paul Friedman wrote in his opinion that the standard “fails to inform journalists how to do their jobs without losing their qualifications. Therefore, the policy is vague and violates the Fifth Amendment.”“We disagree with this decision and are seeking an immediate appeal,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on X.Bloomberg News, five major television networks, and news organizations such as the Associated Press and The Times all said they refused to sign the policy, and their reporters left on October 15. Since the end of World War II, reporters have worked out of the building in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington.“Given the country’s recent invasion of Venezuela and the ongoing war with Iran, it is more important than ever for the public to receive information from diverse perspectives about what the government is doing,” the judge said. (This is a report from Bloomberg)
