The New York Times filed a lawsuit Thursday against the U.S. Department of Defense over the latest restrictions imposed on the work of the media—including the revocation of press credentials—which it argues violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, protecting freedom of the press.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, emphasizes that the Pentagon’s restrictions on media activity “are exactly the type of restrictive scheme” against freedom of expression and of the press that the Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals have previously recognized as violating the First Amendment.
The New York Times alleges that with these measures, the Pentagon is “closing its doors” to the media and to citizens who wish to investigate and report on the department’s actions. The lawsuit demands that the restrictions, which went into effect in October, not be enforced.
The Pentagon’s new policy requires journalists to sign a 21-page form that establishes strict limits on their work, sources, and other reporting materials, and even raises the possibility of sanctions, including the revocation of press credentials, for requesting sensitive information.
Since these rules were made public, several media outlets have refused to comply, not only the New York Times, but also networks such as NBC, ABC, CNN, and Fox News, where the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, worked as a contributor until he was recruited by Donald Trump to join his administration.
Hegseth assumed the position in January after a difficult Senate confirmation process in which he faced accusations about his past, marked by excessive alcohol consumption and a sexual assault, which he has denied.
His first action upon taking office was to attempt to fire a veteran NBC Pentagon reporter who had covered his confirmation hearings. Subsequently, several media outlets witnessed them being stripped of their workspaces at the department headquarters and given to other conservatives.
The Pentagon argues that these new restrictions are intended to prevent leaks that could jeopardize national security and the department’s operations.
