A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has invalidated a Pentagon policy governing media access, ruling that it violates constitutional protections for press freedom and due process.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman issued the decision late Friday, siding with The New York Times, which challenged the policy in court.

The rules, introduced by the Department of Defense in October 2025, required journalists to sign an agreement warning that their access to the Pentagon could be revoked if they were deemed a “security or safety risk.” The criteria included actions such as attempting to obtain or disclose information considered “sensitive,” even if it was not classified.

In his ruling, Friedman said the policy was overly broad and risked penalizing routine journalistic activity.

“Obtaining and attempting to obtain information is what journalists do,” he wrote, noting that basic reporting practices—such as asking questions of government officials—could be interpreted under the policy as grounds for restricting access.

The judge also found that the policy violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, arguing that its vague standards left reporters uncertain about what conduct might trigger penalties.

The ruling represents a significant rebuke of the Pentagon’s approach to regulating media access and underscores ongoing tensions between the government and news organizations over press freedoms.