{"id":1590,"date":"2026-05-18T20:39:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1590"},"modified":"2026-05-18T20:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:39:43","slug":"new-york-times-sues-pentagon-again-over-utterly-unreasonable-press-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1590","title":{"rendered":"New York Times sues Pentagon again over \u2018utterly unreasonable\u2019 press restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"83f7391d-d5e6-45a8-85cb-cea2569c869b\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The New York Times building facade with Gothic lettering above a busy Manhattan street with yellow taxis\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e836b3c9d9a0ed03c33364b86e05b0fe9c173305\/0_0_4108_2739\/master\/4108.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.0377312560857\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the New York Times and reporter Julian E Barnes.<\/span> Photograph: NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"83f7391d-d5e6-45a8-85cb-cea2569c869b\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the New York Times and reporter Julian E Barnes.<\/span> Photograph: NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">New York Times sues Pentagon again over \u2018utterly unreasonable\u2019 press restrictions<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Trump administration unveiled sweeping restrictions on press access at the Department of Defense last September<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/new-york-times\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">The New York Times<\/a> has filed a second lawsuit against the Pentagon, arguing that its recent policy requiring journalists to have official escorts when on Pentagon grounds is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/trump-administration\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Trump administration<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/sep\/20\/pentagon-journalists-restrictions-pledge\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">unveiled sweeping restrictions<\/a> on press access at the US Department of Defense, which it calls the Department of War, last September.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a suit filed in the US district court in Washington on Monday, the Times argued that an interim policy introduced in the spring had imposed \u201cutterly unreasonable\u201d restrictions on journalists attempting to cover the department.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"85473ca8-2307-4e27-93ed-dc8fb8e8aab0\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/14\/israel-sue-new-york-times-sexual-abuse-palestinian-prisoners\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Israel says it will sue New York Times over article on sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292479\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292479.1.0.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">lawsuit<\/a>, brought on behalf of the New York Times and reporter Julian E Barnes, names the Department of Defense, the secretary, Pete Hegseth, Pentagon chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, and special adviser Timothy Parlatore as defendants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In the <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292479\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292479.1.0.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">complaint<\/a>, the Times argues that \u201cto report effectively on the Department, a reporter often must speak with over a dozen officials sitting in Public Affairs offices spread throughout the building\u201d. For decades, it added, the Pentagon\u2019s press access policies \u201creflected this physical reality\u201d by allowing reporters unescorted access in unsecured corridors, \u201cso that they can move from press office to press office and ask questions on short notice as events unfolded\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But a policy that the Pentagon adopted in March \u201cbreaks sharply from that history and tradition\u201d, the paper argued. \u201cNow, to ask even one question, Barnes and other reporters must call or email for an appointment, wait for a response, get an escort, ask their question, and return to the library outside the Pentagon \u2013 only to repeat the process for the next source.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cReporters must either forgo conversations or else spend hours chasing schedulers by phone and shuttling in and out of the building,\u201d the complaint adds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The defense department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Pentagon has <a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2026\/Mar\/23\/2003902148\/-1\/-1\/1\/IMPLEMENTATION-OF-REVISED-MEDIA-IN-BRIEF.PDF\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">previously said<\/a> press access to the department is \u201ca privilege extended by the government\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Times said that without \u201cmeaningful access to the Pentagon\u201d, Barnes and other journalists and news organizations are \u201cdeprived of unique, newsworthy information that can only be obtained in person and through such exchanges\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It added: \u201cThis loss is made more urgent by recent events that have exacerbated the importance of independent reporting, including the capture of the President of Venezuela, the Iran war, and Secretary Hegseth\u2019s firings of multiple high ranking military officials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The lawsuit is asking the court to force the Pentagon to lift the restriction.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is the second time that the Times has sued the defense department over press access. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2025\/dec\/04\/new-york-times-sues-pentagon-trump-press-reporting\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">December<\/a>, it<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/12\/04\/business\/media\/new-york-times-pentagon-lawsuit.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> sued<\/a> the Pentagon <a href=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/newsgraphics\/documenttools\/b8e696e67f82a5b6\/b09267cf-full.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">over<\/a> newly imposed restrictions, which included requiring reporters to sign a form that included strict rules on the \u201csolicitation\u201d of information from defense employees. The new restrictions prompted many<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/oct\/13\/defense-department-media-news-rules\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> leading news <\/a>organizations to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/oct\/13\/defense-department-media-news-rules\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">turn in their credentials in protest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In March, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2026\/mar\/24\/pentagon-correspondents-press-restrictions\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a federal judge<\/a> ruled that key parts of the new press policy were unconstitutional, and undid much of the policy. But soon after, the Pentagon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2026\/mar\/24\/pentagon-correspondents-press-restrictions\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">announced<\/a> new press rules, including that it would permanently close a designated workspace for journalists, and also issued an \u201cinterim\u201d policy requiring journalists to be escorted into the building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In April, the judge<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2026\/apr\/09\/pentagon-judge-press-access-case\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> ruled that the interim policy violated his court order,<\/a> but the Pentagon appealed against the ruling and asked the appeals court to allow the escort requirement to remain in place during the appeal process. The appeals court allowed the escort policy to remain in place while the appeal proceeds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In its new lawsuit filed on Monday, the Times argued: \u201cThe Interim Policy is patently retaliatory, utterly unreasonable, and manifestly arbitrary and capricious.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-defence-spending\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US defence spending<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/media\/new-york-times\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">New York Times<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/media\/press-freedom\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Press freedom<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/media\/newspapers\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Newspapers<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=New%20York%20Times%20sues%20Pentagon%20again%20over%20%E2%80%98utterly%20unreasonable%E2%80%99%20press%20restrictions&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/new-york-times-pentagon-press-restrictions-lawsuit?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F18%2Fnew-york-times-pentagon-press-restrictions-lawsuit&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/new-york-times-pentagon-press-restrictions-lawsuit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the New York Times and reporter Julian E Barnes. Photograph: NurPhoto\/Getty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1590"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1593,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1590\/revisions\/1593"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}