'New York Times' sues Pentagon over media restrictions

"The New York Times sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday over the Pentagon's new policy that requires media outlets to pledge not to gather information unless defense officials formally authorize its release. That policy, unveiled in September, includes a ban on credentialed journalists reporting even unclassified material that isn't expressly approved for public consumption by Defense Department brass. The Times said the Pentagon policy represents an attempt to force reporters to rely solely upon officials for news involving the military."

"The Times and NPR are among the organizations that chose to give up their press passes rather than agree to the policy. NPR is seeking comment from the Pentagon about the newly filed suit. Despite surrendering their Pentagon credentials, news organizations have been aggressively reporting on military action including U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Venezuelan vessels, breaking news that contradicts official accounts."

"Most recently, an inspector general has found that Hegseth's private Signal chats with senior government officials about pending U.S. airstrikes in Yemen could have placed American troops in harm's way. The chats were first revealed by The Atlantic's editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, whose number was mistakenly added to the chat. (NPR CEO Katherine Maher is the chairperson of the board of directors of the Signal Foundation, which oversees Signal.)"

The New York Times sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a Pentagon policy requiring media to pledge not to gather information unless defense officials formally authorize its release. The policy bans credentialed journalists from reporting unclassified material not expressly approved by Defense Department officials. Several organizations, including The Times and NPR, relinquished Pentagon press credentials rather than agree to the policy. News organizations continued independent reporting on military actions such as U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Venezuelan vessels. An inspector general found Hegseth's private Signal chats about pending U.S. airstrikes in Yemen could have endangered troops. The Times alleges the policy violates First Amendment protections.

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