US judge strikes down Pentagon press limits as unconstitutional

A federal judge on Friday ruled that a Pentagon media access policy violated the First Amendment, effectively striking down restrictions that major news outlets had challenged as unconstitutional. The policy had limited journalists' credentials and access to military facilities, prompting organizations including The New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN to refuse compliance. The ruling restores credential access for these outlets and represents a legal rebuke to Pentagon efforts to control wartime reporting. The decision reinforces the judiciary's role in protecting press freedom against executive branch restrictions. The case reflects ongoing tensions between national security concerns and the public's constitutional right to independent journalism.