WASHINGTON – In a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration, a federal judge has ruled that the Pentagon violated a prior court order by attempting to restrict press access, highlighting the administration’s ongoing efforts to control the narrative and limit scrutiny of its actions. Judge Paul Friedman granted a motion by The New York Times, asserting that the Department of Defense (DoD) had not complied with his March 20 ruling, which dismantled a restrictive new press pass policy that disproportionately impacted journalists critical of the administration.

The New York Times, which sued the Trump administration in December, argued that the Pentagon's response—creating a new press access policy and shuttering the "correspondents’ corridor"—represented an "end-run" around the court's initial decision. This tactic underscores a broader pattern of the administration using bureaucratic maneuvers to evade accountability and suppress dissenting voices.

Judge Friedman specifically called out the DoD regulation requiring journalists to be escorted within the Pentagon, a measure that would significantly hinder their ability to conduct independent reporting. He also criticized the language concerning the "inducement of unauthorized disclosures," a vague provision that could be used to intimidate sources and stifle whistleblowing. During a March 30 hearing, Judge Friedman expressed his skepticism of the new policies, characterizing aspects as "weird" and "Kafkaesque," highlighting their absurdity and potential for abuse.

In his ruling, Judge Friedman emphasized that the imposed standards and restrictions on press pass holders effectively continued the previously vacated and enjoined policy. While New York Times journalists had their credentials returned, the added escort requirement, in the judge’s view, prevented the true reinstatement of press privileges, limiting their ability to move freely and gather information.

Last fall, a majority of Pentagon press pass holders protested a new policy preventing the "solicitation" of unauthorized information, which news organizations viewed as impeding journalistic activity. They walked out of the building instead of signing on to the policy, a powerful display of solidarity against attempts to curtail press freedom. This incident exposed the administration’s intent to control the flow of information and limit transparency.

Even though the language in the new press policy was amended, Judge Friedman wrote that the DoD could not simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of new action and expect the court to ignore it. The Trump administration provided workspace in a library for New York Times reporters and other pass holders, including conservative media influencers, while a new press workspace is established. However, Judge Friedman determined that the closure of the existing space defied his order, demonstrating a clear disregard for the court’s authority.