Pentagon closes office space for journalists after judge’s ruling on building press policy

The Pentagon is closing its media offices and issuing new press credentials following a federal judge's ruling that the Defense Department's restrictive press policy violated the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sided with The New York Times in its lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's credential system, which had limited journalist access to the building. By shuttering the press offices while issuing new credentials, the Defense Department appears to be attempting to comply with the court's constitutional mandate while still restricting which reporters can physically enter the facility. The New York Times' legal challenge highlighted concerns that the Pentagon's credential process gave military leadership too much discretion to exclude journalists based on their coverage. The move creates a tension between the judge's ruling and the Pentagon's apparent intent to maintain some gatekeeping over physical access to its headquarters.