The New York Times is preparing to file a federal lawsuit in Washington, DC, challenging new press access restrictions imposed by the Department of War.
The suit names the Department of War, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell as defendants, and seeks to strike down a policy rolled out in October that reshaped press access at the Pentagon. Attorneys for the Times are asking the court to declare the policy unconstitutional and block its enforcement.
Earlier this week, Hegseth hosted dozens of influencers and content creators at the Pentagon for orientation sessions and press briefings. Hegseth’s communications team has labeled the group the “new Pentagon press corps.”
While the Times is currently the only outlet bringing legal action, attorneys involved in the case said other news organizations are expected to file briefs in support.
