A federal judge suspended until further notice a regulation according to which journalists are only allowed to move through the ministry when accompanied by an employee.Image: keystone
Jul 1, 2026, 4:12 amJul 1, 2026, 4:12 am
The New York Times has won an interim victory in the legal dispute over access restrictions for journalists in the US Department of Defense. A federal judge suspended until further notice a regulation according to which journalists are only allowed to move through the ministry when accompanied by an employee. The injunction is in effect until a judgment is made.
The judge based his decision on the importance of a free press and an informed population. This principle should not be abandoned in the year of the USA’s 250th anniversary.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell criticized the judge’s decision. The department’s rules are necessary to prevent sensitive information from falling into the hands of enemies of the United States.
Court overturned Pentagon rules
Last fall, the Pentagon introduced new guidelines for journalists. These stipulated that media representatives were not allowed to publish any information about the Pentagon without the permission of the ministry – otherwise their accreditation threatened to be withdrawn. Reporters who did not agree to this had to hand in their IDs and vacate their jobs. Almost all major US media companies refused to sign the 21-page catalog of rules.
The New York Times successfully sued against the guidelines, whereupon the Pentagon countered with new rules: This also included the obligation to be accompanied by ministry personnel, which was now being negotiated. (sda/dpa)