A federal judge has found the Pentagon in violation of his own order, forcing the military's leadership to restore press credentials and reverse restrictions on journalist access that were implemented after the court ruled against the Defense Department's policy.
Judge Paul Friedman determined Thursday that the Pentagon failed to comply with his March 20 ruling that struck down a restrictive press pass policy. The New York Times sued the Trump administration in December over the limits on reporter access and credentials.
The newspaper returned to court after the Pentagon responded to Friedman's initial decision by crafting what the Times characterized as a workaround. Rather than fully implementing the judge's order, the Defense Department unveiled a new press access policy aimed at achieving similar restrictions by different means. The Pentagon also announced it would close the correspondents' corridor, a designated work space for journalists at the Department of Defense.
Friedman's latest ruling compels the Pentagon to return press credentials to seven New York Times reporters and implement his earlier decision without delay or additional obstacles. The case underscores ongoing tension between the Trump administration and major news organizations over government transparency and reporter access to Pentagon facilities and officials.
The judge's finding that the Pentagon violated his order represents a significant setback for the Defense Department, which had attempted to preserve its new restrictions through different procedural mechanisms after the initial court defeat.
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