A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon's policy requiring escorts for reporters. The ruling, made by US District Judge Paul Friedman, sides with the New York Times and prevents the Pentagon from enforcing the escort policy.
The injunction only applies to reporters affiliated with the New York Times. The policy, which was put in place to require reporters to be accompanied by an official escort, was challenged by the New York Times in a lawsuit filed in May.
The Times argued that the policy hindered reporters' ability to report on the Department and the U.S. military quickly, accurately, and comprehensively. Judge Friedman agreed, stating that the escort policy "undercut[s] the basic assumption of our political system that the press will often serve as an important restraint on government."
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ruling marks the latest legal setback in the Defense Department's effort to crack down on press freedom on the Pentagon's campus.
This is not the first time the Pentagon has faced challenges over its press policies. Last year, Pentagon reporters turned in their badges after refusing to sign a new security rule that would have required them to pledge not to obtain or use unauthorized material.
The new policy would have made it difficult for reporters to conduct independent journalism. Almost all of the reporters covering the Pentagon chose to turn in their badges rather than sign the pledge.
