UPDATED: The Defense Department on Monday announced a new policy for press access to the Pentagon after a federal judge ruled that its previous set of restrictions were unconstitutional.
Under the new terms, the Pentagon is seeking to be more specific in identifying its restrictions, prohibiting journalists from efforts to “solicit government employees to violate the law by providing confidential government information,” according to the New York Times. On Friday, a judge ruled that the Pentagon’s previous restrictions were vague, and it’s unclear if the new language will survive First Amendment scrutiny.
But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, outlined a new set of restrictions, including the movement of journalists from their workspace inside the building. “Effective immediately, the Correspondents’ Corridor is closed. A new and improved press workspace will be established in an annex facility outside the Pentagon, but still on Pentagon grounds, and will be available when ready,” Parnell wrote on X.
He wrote, “All journalist access to the Pentagon will require escort by authorized Department personnel. Credential holders will continue to have access to the Pentagon for scheduled press briefings, press conferences, and interviews arranged through public affairs offices.”
The Pentagon also is appealing U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman’s ruling.
Most media outlets left the Pentagon last year after they refused to sign on to the new restrictions, many deeming them an effort to suppress independent reporting.
Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for The Times, which brought the lawsuit challenging the Pentagon restrictions, said that the revised policy “does not comply with the judge’s order. It continues to impose unconstitutional restrictions on the press. We will be going back to court.”
