A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration's restrictive Pentagon press access policy, which threatens journalists with being ​branded security risks if they seek information not authorized for public release. The Pentagon and the New York Times did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. Of the 56 news outlets in the Pentagon Press Association, only one agreed to sign an acknowledgment of the new policy, according to the Times' lawsuit. Justice Department lawyers acknowledged the policy was partly subjective but said press credentialing decisions were still governed by neutral, objective criteria. The policy change was criticized by journalism advocates, who called it another attack on the free press by Trump and his administration.

Source: The Telegraph March 21, 2026 08:56 UTC