Judge Rejects Hegseth’s Second Attempt to Restrict Reporters at Pentagon

New York Times
by Erik Wemple
April 9, 2026
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2 min read

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The Bottom Line

A federal judge rejected Pete Hegseth's second attempt to restrict reporters at the Pentagon.

How This Affects You

This ruling upholds the press's constitutional right to cover the Pentagon, ensuring public access to information about government operations.

AI Summary

A federal judge rejected Pete Hegseth's second attempt to restrict reporters at the Pentagon. This decision guts a new set of rules adopted after the court previously declared an earlier press policy unconstitutional. The ruling stems from a case initially brought by The New York Times, which challenged the Pentagon's restrictions on press access. This means the Trump administration's efforts to control media access at the Department of Defense have again been legally challenged and overturned. The ruling reinforces the constitutional rights of the press to cover the Pentagon.

What's Being Done

A federal judge rejected Pete Hegseth's second attempt to restrict reporters at the Pentagon.

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