The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists' constitutional rights to free speech and due process. The current Pentagon press corps is comprised mostly of conservative outlets that agreed to the policy. The judge ordered the Pentagon to reinstate the press credentials of seven Times journalists. Pentagon must update judge in a weekThe Pentagon had asked the judge to suspend his ruling for a week for an appeal. The newspaper noted that Trump ally Laura Loomer, a right-wing personality who agreed to the Pentagon policy, appeared to violate the Pentagon's prohibition on soliciting unauthorized information by promoting her "tip line."

Source: International New York Times March 21, 2026 13:36 UTC