The Pentagon tightened restrictions on journalists covering the US military on Monday, days after a US court ruled that its earlier overhaul of press access was unconstitutional.
The department said it would close the building’s designated press area, the Correspondents’ Corridor, and that “all journalist access to the Pentagon will require escort by authorized department personnel.” Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the changes were prompted by “security risks.” He posted on X that a new workspace will be established in an “annex facility outside the Pentagon, but still on Pentagon grounds.”
This move follows a federal judge’s ruling last Friday that the Pentagon’s 2025 changes to press access—which had withdrawn accreditations from several major outlets—violated the Constitution. The lawsuit was filed by The New York Times, and the court ordered the department to reinstate credentials for the Times’ Pentagon reporters.
Parnell said the department “always complies with court orders” but will appeal the ruling. He added that credentials would be reissued but that reporters would be annexed to the grounds. “Credential holders will continue to have access to the Pentagon for scheduled press briefings, press conferences, and interviews arranged through public affairs offices,” he said, asserting the department’s commitment to both transparency and security.
The restrictions come nearly a month into the US-Israel conflict with Iran, a period many see as especially critical for defense reporting. National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. criticized the move, saying: “Closing the Correspondents’ Corridor and forcing escorted access undermines independent reporting at the Pentagon at a moment when the public needs clear, unfiltered information about the US military.” The Pentagon Press Association called the announcement “a clear violation of the letter and spirit of last week’s ruling” and asked why the Pentagon would restrict press freedoms during such a crucial time.
In 2025 the Pentagon vacated dedicated office spaces used by eight media organizations—including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NBC and NPR—and reportedly made room for pro-administration outlets. Remaining outlets were required to be accompanied by official escorts beyond a limited area inside the building. Several organizations, including The New York Times, Fox News, the Associated Press and AFP, declined to sign the new policy and consequently lost Pentagon credentials.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery